Sunny Day in January.

I noticed a strange thing happening about two weeks ago.   I feel I'm becoming myself again.   Let me explain......I was under a lot of stress in 2013 with what Roger was going through and didn't really realize it until coming up to Xmas of that year I really noticed it.  I thought I was "tough" enough to get through it unscathed. .  Then leading up to his passing in January 2014, it seemed to have gotten worse.   Coming up to summer I thought things were getting back to normal, still I thought it strange that the gardening which is a big part of my life, didn't really interest me as usual and that I was doing things in the garden by rote really.  Of course I didn't realize this at the time, it's only now that I think about it, that it makes sense.   Now, as I said, I feel more like myself, more optimistic, and not minding the winter as I did last winter when I seemed to just struggle through.   Well, I'm not going to waffle on about it, just to say I feel good.

We had snow night before last so spent a good part of the morning shoveling.  Did the front and back decks and both sets of steps.   Then shoveled down to the driveway.   Honestly, I really enjoyed it. That's not to say that I like winter any better, haha.  Came in for a bit of a break and then decided to shovel out the driveway.   Got half way through that when I saw a friend coming down the road.  My wood man and all round great helper.  He said I figured you'd be out at this, then took the shovel and did the rest of the driveway for me.   Later in the morning I shoveled a path to the bird feeders.   Woke up to -16 this morning.  The fire had gone out so it's just now warming up in here.  Looks like it's going to be a lovely sunny day with temps rising to -7.  I can handle that much better.

Cats haven't been out much.  Tommy, in particular gets frustrated when the cold and snow stops him from going out so he takes it out on my plants, his teddy and the other cats.

The snow.

Woody earlier this week.

And, to end off, one of the cheeky squirrels.