HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - A BIG THANK YOU …

to the two industrious young men - brothers - who turned up yesterday afternoon and asked if they could shovel our driveway. We also asked them if they could do the path up to the front door and around our mailbox and we explain about the thick ice (we stopped our mail until next week, so that our mailman wouldn't have to deal with trying to get to our mailbox and he's such a nice man, he would do that). 

Anyhow, it was no easy task. Their parents must be very proud of them, very sweet young guys, with a lot more strength than we had, and very hard working. When they saw Gregg getting ready to sprinkle ice melt, they took the large bag and did that for him also. One of their other jobs is they trim trees so we took their card and they will be the first we call when we need them. 

As soon as they left, dear other half got the car out and was able to get through the neighborhood okay, stopped off for a few groceries and brought me back a coffee. He was very glad to get out.

There is still not as much room to drive in the neighborhood, as there are big mounds of snow on each side to navigate, but navigate he did. With this storm being so widespread, many of you are probably seeing these same conditions yourselves. At least the parking lots at the stores have been cleared for the most part, and the main roads are clear.

Our weekend forecast: a very cold start with temperatures near 25-30 degrees F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C) for highs and sub-freezing, near-record lows (single digits to teens) through the weekend. The weather remains cold and mostly dry through early next week, with daytime highs gradually rising from the mid 20s to upper 30 degrees F by midweek. Woo-hoo! A heatwave!  

Gregg asked if I would like to get a grilled chicken sandwich from one of our fast-food places we go to. I was happy to say yes, and I took a few photos coming back, just to show you what the roads were like.

I was happy to get out so, a big shout out to the two young men who knocked on our door. Also, a big thank you to all those hard-working people who get up in the wee hours to clear our roads. We are very grateful!

I hope all goes well with you out there and 

A Very Happy First Day of February! 

Thanks for stopping by. 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - THE SQUIRREL'S FIRST TIME SEEING SNOW - HE'S NOT IMPRESSED

Lady is going to have to get her hearing checked. She also told the squirrels it was time to give the birds their time at the feeders. Their nest would be much warmer for them she said. They left having had lots of good nuts, fruits and seeds, and there was plenty more for the birds.  In no time at all after they had left, a feathered friend arrived.

Our little Carolina Wren hasn't been around for a while and was feeling a bit shy.  It was visiting long before the Froggies 3 arrived in the family. I am glad to see it is back...more tomorrow.

And so it goes at the birdfeeder. 

Have a great weekend everyone,

and thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE

 

We were told snow was coming this weekend but it turned into steady rain, so we are spending most of our weekend indoors looks like, unless today surprises us. All you lovely people who are having bad weather, take good care of yourselves and stay warm.  

This is a recently completed jigsaw puzzle from off my iPad.  I love the expression on that little dog’s face.

I also found this sweet illustration on pixabay.com.  I can’t remember the last time I built a snowman.   

Have a great day and a great week ahead.  

HOME INDEED - A POEM

Draw up a chair and light a light

And find a book to read.

The heavens are dark and wild the night

And home is home indeed.

The louder seems the winter's ire

Tonight, the brighter seems the fire,

For when the wintry storms begin

The more the comfort here within.

The wind is at the windowpane,

The wind is at the door.

It shakes the house and shakes in vain,

For loud the chimney's roar.

And higher leaps the crimson blaze

In winter than in summer days.

The more the weather is unkind,

A greater joy within we find.

The fields in springtime call us forth,

Their rosy paths to roam,

But when the wind is in the north,

We pluck the rose at home.

Perhaps God sends the wintry hours

To show that there are other flowers,

For when a roof and fire you need,

Ah, then a home is home indeed.

Home Indeed

by 

Douglas Malloch

Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer and Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He was known as a "Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writing Round River Drive and "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" in addition to many other creations. He was commissioned to write new lyrics for the Michigan State Song, Michigan, My Michigan in 1902.

Michigan was well known for its lumber in the early days.  Interesting article on that history here.

(all photos were found at pixabay.com)

IN WINTER...

In winter all the singing 

is in the tops of the trees 

where the wind-bird

with its white eyes 

shoves and pushes

among the branches 

like any of us 

he wants to go to sleep,

but he's restless - 

he has an idea

and slowly it unfolds

from under his beating wings

as long as he stays awake,

but his big, round music, after all

is too breathy to last.

So, it's over.

in the pine-crown 

he makes his nest,

he's done all he can.

I don't know the name of this bird,

I only imagine his glittering beak

tucked in a white wing 

while the clouds -

which he has summoned

from the north -

which he has taught

to be mild and silent -

thicken, and begin to fall

into the world below

like stars, or the feathers 

of some unimaginable bird

that loves us, 

that is asleep now, and silent - 

that has turned itself 

into snow.

White-Eyes 

by 

Mary Oliver

I SIT BESIDE THE FIRE AND THINK…

 I sit beside the fire and think

Of all that I have seen

Of meadow flowers and butterflies

In summers that have been

Of yellow leaves and gossamer

In autumn that were 

With morning mist and silver sun

And wind upon my hair

I sit beside the fire and think

Of how the world will be

When winter comes without a spring

That I shall ever see

For still there are so many things

That I have never seen

In every wood in every spring 

There is a different Green

I sit beside the fire and think

Of people long ago

And people that will see a world 

That I will never know  

But all the while I sit and think

Of times there were before 

I listen for returning feet

And voices at the door 

I Sit Beside The Fire and Think

~J. R. R. Tolkien~

For Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, this was a poem, a song actually, sung by Bilbo Baggins.  I found a great website called Tolkien's Gateway.  I have provided several links which you will see below in the explanation of this poem.  For non-fans I think you will still enjoy this poem.

"I sit Beside the Fire and Think" is a song by Bilbo Baggins, which he sang softly in Rivendell on 24 December T.A. 3018, the evening before the Fellowship of the Ring set out upon their quest. Bilbo sang the song in the presence of Frodo, after giving Frodo the mithril coat and and Sting.  The song is a contemplative piece, sung by a now-aging hobbit recalling past events that ends in anticipation of hearing returning friends." 

The poem above came from Tolkien's Gateway (this link).  It has a lot more information throughout.

(The photo of the fire is from Pixabay.com)

AND THEN THE SNOW

I took these photos with our camera from inside the house, not the trail cam.  That came inside when I realized the snow was coming. Its lens in rain and snow gives some interesting effects, but on the whole the photos are poor.

When I wrote this, (Saturday, March 12th, 2022), it was snowing since early morning, and 21 deg. F.  The day before it was well into the mid 60s.  Today (the 15th) it is 72 degrees.  The birds must have been wondering what was going on.

Fluff your feathers out more, said I, you are supposed to be flying north!  

I have been enjoying watching the birds and squirrels.  Several had their feathers fluffed out more than others.

The squirrels lay with their backs to the wind and their tails flattened over them, to try and keep warm presumably.  Just like we would put on extra layers, they make good use of their tails.  I have noticed the birds sit/stand in the same direction, against the wind, a whole flock of them.  Maybe you have noticed this also.   I haven’t done any research, so I am adding it to my list of things to find out.

The Starlings were having more than their share, but were not in as great numbers as the Grackles. It seemed to me that there was an abundance of our feathered friends, more so than normal.  The  snow had actually brought dozens to the feeders, a steady stream of them.

For the first time this year I noticed a Red-winged blackbird.  The shoulder patch showed a little yellow, with a faint touch, very faint, of red.  Perhaps a non-breeding male?  

The only time I notice them is during the warmer months at Huntley Meadows, always near the water, with a very rare sighting at our feeders.  There is a creek nearby but I think they are passing through. 

The male Northern Cardinal gave me the eye, saw me taking photos but posed nicely.

And then he had enough and flew up into the tree.

I saw a Dark-eyed Junco on another branch, patiently waiting a turn.

For the first time this year the Common Grackles showed themselves.  You can't see by this photo, but there were literally a couple of dozen in the highest part of the tree.

Fascinating birds, I enjoy observing them.  

The Blue Jays are back also…

and the American Robins…

and mustn't forget these little darlings, the Carolina Wren.  Probably wondering if she would get a chance to eat from the suet feeder, but she scratched through the snow and found some tasty seeds below her feet.

Later she found space above, with the company of a House Finch.

The Furry One was there...down below on the deck…

as well as other family members.

He didn't have to dig very deep before finding food.

He remembered his manners and said thank you for replenishing their food all through that snowy day.

You are very welcome Sweetie!

When the wind was strong, sitting on the hanging feeder must have been a roller coaster ride, and sometimes the feeders were doing good impersonations of spinning tops, set into motion by each bird coming and going.  (I made sure they were secured tightly.)  Spinning tops aside, they got on with it and kept eating, sometimes chasing each other off to get their spot.  

It was quite a day and when the wind picked up, heads were lowered as the flurries of snow hit their faces.  At one point I watched a Starling battling a gust of wind.  A thought crossed my mind of what it must be like in a wind tunnel.  It was struggling for a few seconds, and then the gust went away.  It settled on the rail where it scratched away the snow to get at the seed, just like this American Robin did before him..  

As I mentioned, there were a lot of birds at the dinner table, much more than we usually get.  Was it the snow and the lack of food elsewhere? I did give them extra birdseed between those flurries, it was the least I could do.  It was such a dramatic change in the weather, as yesterday the sun was shining and in the 60s.  The weather people told us we were under a storm watch.  It started raining in the night, which turned to snow.  Fortunately not as bad as before, and it was a wet snow.  As I finish this post off it has all melted.  

This is our weather through to Tuesday the 22nd. 

That's the end of my bird viewing during snow day at home.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your week.