We have Snow!

After getting through December and most of January with little or no snow, today we have it. I suppose I shouldn't complain, and I won't, as long as it goes quickly. I don't like winter!! We're not long home from a birthday brunch at a friends house. What a feed....homemade granola, fruits, three different quiches, roasted potato, a variety of breads, jams and jellies, all finished off with a birthday cake...angel food cake with lemon filling and a load of whipped cream for the icing. I am stuffed! I was thinking of you Pete, lol.

There are lots of birds around today, Juncos, Nuthatches, Jays both the blue and grey, crows, grosbeaks, woodpeckers and chick a dees. I've had a Boreal Chick a Dee coming to the feeders for ages and figured there was only the one. But, low and behold, today on one of the suet blocks there were two. The first time I've seen two together. I was well pleased.

A few pictures.
One of the boreal chick a dees. They are the sweetest little birds.

Some of the rascals who fly in every day for food.



Juncos.


A few snow pictures.

Bonfire

We had a lot of dying, dead and fallen trees in the woods on the property and a friend kindly offered to cut them down and saw them up for us. So, Saturday morning we heard the chain saw going and before long a lot of the trees were down, trimmed of branches and sawed up into junks. Most of the trees are huge Spruce that have had their day. Our friend said that he would pile the branches, etc. up and also throw in some stuff that we had ready to go out on clean up week in May that would burn. Old boards, etc. So, yesterday morning while still not daylight we looked up towards the woods and saw a fire burning. What a fright I got as I'm not use to this sort of thing. However, our friend is a real woodsman and knows all about this stuff. Although I was a bit nervous at first, it wasn't long before I was throwing branches on the pile. I can now understand peoples fascination with bonfires. The day was perfect and you can have a bonfire this time of year as it's cold and wet and no danger of the forest going up. It's a good time to cut some of these old trees down as the birds aren't nesting yet. Not only that, we haven't found any old nests so it looks like the birds are going further a field to do this.

A few pictures.


Himself having a rest.


There's still more work to do there yet and probably another bonfire.

It's bitterly cold today. Skies are clear but the wind is cutting. The Grosbeaks are here off and on all day filling up on sunflower seeds.


I believe this little squirrel is a new one at the feeders.


And this is my handsome friend Duke who was watching the bonfire with us.

We still haven't had much snow to talk about. Very strange! As each day passes without it, it's one more day towards spring. I'm having some serious looks at my gardening books these days, lol.

I Can Hardly Believe......

That the pussy willows are coming out in JANUARY!!


The weather this winter has been so strange. Mind you, St. John's got about 35 cm of snow yesterday but we were unscathed. The grass is green and I'm sure the plants just don't know what to do about it all. No doubt we will get snow before winter is over but I'm happy with the situation as it stands today.

I've been in a funny mood lately. I don't seem to know what to do with myself and it's not because there aren't things I could be doing. Is this what's called winter malaise? I think this weather makes me think we are in April and yet I can't get out in the garden because it's really winter. The ground is extremely wet as we've had so much rain and drizzle. I've had to lay down boards coming up to the deck because it's so muddy.

Himself arrived back home on the 8th. Still sick with fever and weakness. We went to the doctor earlier this week and he's on more antibiotics. The rash is gone thankfully. Needless to say he's very fed up with it all.

Lots of birds at the feeders today.
Can you find the Junco in this picture. A good job of camouflage.

Jays.



Woodies.

Grosbeaks.


The Paper Whites I planted at Xmas are now in bloom and giving off a lovely scent.


Cats just hanging out.

Teddy Bears and Birds.

We finally saw the sun this morning. Everything was golden. A friend phoned to see if I'd like to go to the Good will with her so at 10:00 am we were off. I had a few groceries to pick up so it would all work out well. I just love rummaging around these places. I spied some boxes of toys and there was a teddy bear looking up at me from one of them. Now, there are only certain kinds that appeal to me and this was one of them. I like the jointed ones but I've been know to buy other kinds on occasion. I picked this one up and said, okay, you're coming with me. On turning around I saw a much larger bear hanging off the side of the box with just one eye. I walked over to him and said, I can give you a new eye, you're coming with me. Before I managed to get away I saw this small head peeking out of the box, looking so sad, saying ...please, please, please take me home too. Well, what else could one do. So, picked him up and said you're coming home with me.

These are the three rascals. Aren't they dears.


Although the sun was out, it felt quite nippy. Quite a few birds at the feeders. Two grey jays were here. Haven't seen those in ages. Lots of chick a dees and a few American goldfinches back again along with the usual crowd, crows, jays, woodies, and nuthatches.

Chick a Dees



Grey Jay


Malachi yesterday in the misty rain.

Update on Himself. He's still in Spain, flying home on Friday. He's been to the doctor again and had blood tests. They don't know what's causing the rash but found that he has a bronchial infection and he's on heavy duty antibiotics. Hopefully he'll be feeling well enough to fly.

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that another year has gone by. I was invited to a friends "shed" for a bit of a New Years celebration late yesterday afternoon. I'm sure only another Newfoundlander would know what I'm talking about when I say "the shed". It's a small building for tools, etc. that most out port people have on their property that's specifically for the man of the house and his buddies to hang out, tell a few yarns, have a few laughs and a few beers on a Saturday afternoon. It usually contains a wood stove so it's used all year round. Well, this one was decorated inside with all kinds of Xmas lights, a Xmas tree and balloons all over the ceiling. The outside had a huge blown up snowman and a Santa and many more lights. It was marvelous. There were seven of us and five dogs. I only wish I had taken my camera to get a few pictures. I really enjoyed it. I only stayed for about two hours but that was enough to get me a little tipsy, lol. I came home and watched a chick flick then went to bed long before midnight.

Himself phoned from Spain. They had gotten back from Morocco, him with a swollen tongue, swollen lip, red spots on his front and back and just feeling miserable. It will be off to the doctor once again on Monday if he's still in the same state.

My parents phoned earlier this morning saying they were at a dinner and dance last night. My mother said she had a few dances but said "Your father didn't get off the dance floor all night." I can't believe what great shape he's in for a 90 year old. I don't think even I could do that any more.

A bit of excitement a few days ago. A flock of American Goldfinches arrived at the feeders. Just a few photos and not good ones at that.



So, here's wishing you all a Very, Very, Happy New Year!