Winter is here

Monday morning was snowing and windy and cold.  Temps in single digits, wind chills in the negative column.  All this blustery weather, made for busy times at the bird feeders.

I love a blue jay in the snow.

 I'm not sure if this guy was loving the snow.

He looks cranky.

White breasted nuthatch grabbing a snack.

 This new suet bag has really brought the woodpeckers.

I watched several downy woodpeckers waiting in the queue to have a snack, but the red bellied woodpecker as the boss.

Waiting his turn.

Sneaking a bite

 Finally the downy got brave enough to sneak a peck at the log.

Getting braver

 I'm going to have to grab a few more of these suet bags next time I am at the grocery.

Red breasted nuthatch...he's a new addition to my regular birds this year.

Nice day at the feeders for sure, and glad I can be toasty warm in the house while I watch and take photos!

You know I believe

Yes, you know, if you read this blog, that I believe in thank you notes.

I try to be sure to write them and I love to get them.

Here are two I received recently from my great nieces after I sent them a birthday card and a little cash.

It's fun to see the kids grow up, address their own envelopes, sign their names, etc.

And it's really nice to see they learn to write a good thank you note as well.

Life is Good.

Starlets?

Recently the Humane Society where I adopted the kitties about 5 years ago, asked if they could use their picture and story in their monthly newsletter. 

 Of course, we were flattered.

With Facebook as a good help in communications, this local Humane Society places many of the animals that they receive in forever homes.  None more important than my two though.

A drink with friends

One of my little pleasures on a cold winter day is to watch the activity at the heated bird bath.

The little finch really are thirsty and seem to gather there as friends do at the local watering hole.

Minus 11 here this morning with wind chills predicted to be in the -25 to -40 range, the weatherfolks say that this is abnormally chilly for December.  While it looks like a white Christmas is a no brainer, it would be good to have a few more degrees to ease the stress on furnaces and people & little birds.

2013-14 Winter has begun

This past week has been cold and snowy.  It seems like we jumped from Fall into snow covered, below zero weather.  The transition has caused me to be whiny.

The birds really have it tough in this weather.

The downy woodpeckers love the suet and also the finch sock.

These little finch drink from the bird bath and spend most of the day on the finch sack.

I feel badly that these little birds have to sit on ice covered branches.

The red breasted woodpecker really makes short work of the suet block.

White breasted nuthatch perched on the snow.

2013 Hunting

A couple of hunting photos that I got in text messages during the 2013 hunt.

Gus, Glenn, Kyle
Gage, Jack
Andy, Alyxis
Dead deer

Kyle and son Jack

I had breakfast with Gus this past week and got updated on how much fun was had during the hunt.

I'm always glad when the hunt is over and everyone is safe.

And so it begins

Our first real snow for the 2013-14 winter.  

About 6 inches of heavy snow, but it is very pretty. It was time to get the ground covered.

Wanda Johansen
from my Note II