Day 366 - 31st December 2016 - Chickadees and Sunrise

This is it - the last day of 2016. Wow, where did the time go! Well 2016 sure had a lot of ups and downs, happy times and sad times. It seemed to be a whirlwind of a year.  My one regret is that I didn't get out birding as much - partly because I started a new job (which I love) and Larry wasn't able to do the long treks over rough land to my favourite spots. Hopefully 2017 will fix him up with a hip replacement in the spring. Highlights - we were fortunate enough to have all the family home to visit at one time and I did a session of family photos. Once again I got to enjoy Harmony Bazaar - the performers are always wonderful.  A new job for me - which involved getting outside of my comfort level at times. No New Years resolutions for me - but there are a few things on my bucket list to accomplish or try. Update - Lexi and I walked a little further yesterday, she got as far as Auntie Lois' for a quick visit. I see slow improvements but she's not back to herself yet. So I guess I continue tomorrow morning with another year of the blog. Over the last few weeks I'm pondered whether to continue but then ... what else do I do at 5am! Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Look  to the Future.

Chickadee

They hold the seed between their feet - cracking the outer shell with their beak.














A little morning sunrise through the old apple trees.









Enjoy your day!

Day 365 - 30th December 2016 - Evening Grosbeak, Red Breasted Nuthatch and a lovely Cat

So we've overslept, Lexi s in a frenzy to go out and she's eaten before she should have. Maybe I should just go back to bed! Internet was slow uploading my pics so I'm really late getting this all posted. Well we had a wet and wild night, power outages in some places, ours flickered but held. Still windy out, hopefully that dies down soon. But it's mild. Lexi and some improvement yesterday, we went out walking twice not our usual long hauls but further than she's been in about 5 days.  She's got an unpleasant side effect of the drugs but we deal with that and hope it passes soon.  I undecorated the tree and will put that out today or tomorrow. I've never seen a tree lose so many spills - must have been due to our dry summer. Puttered around and enjoyed a little lazy time too.

Evening Grosbeak

 Red Breasted Nuthatch

Meme - my favourite feline, just chilling.







Enjoy your day!

Day 364 - 29th December 2016 - Chickadee, Evening Grosbeak and Downy Woodpecker

Wednesday was another quiet day in the hood. Weather has been fairly mild, this morning it's a bit colder at -2.  I puttered around in between being a little lazy and reading. Did get out for a short jaunt. Lexi is making some improvements, but not yet ready to go far from home. Thinking it will be a slow steady recovery or at least that's what I'm hoping. Got most of the gifts out from under the tree yesterday, will take the tree down today or tomorrow.  Looking at the upcoming weather for tonight, think I'll put the tree out tomorrow. We always tie it to the bottom of one of the feeders to offer some added shelter to the birds over the winter months. Tonight they are giving very high winds and lots of rain. Might just charge up a few things and make sure I've got extra water in case of a power outage. At least it will be mild.  I'm slow getting posted this morning - it's busy these days with feeding the girl gourmet food- mixing more of her food in with it and making sure she takes her pills.

 Chickadee - they are so fun to watch as the crack the seeds and then get their prize.

 Female Downy Woodpecker - the love the suet

This Female Evening Grosbeak looks a little curious at the crazy lady with the big lens.







Enjoy your day!

Day 363- 28th December2016- Red Breasted Nuthatch, Lichen and Bird's Nest

So it's Wednesday, I actually had to check the calendar - one day seems to melt into the next with a holiday or two! Looks like another mild day, easy on the woodpile. The rain stopped yesterday around lunch time and it cleared. Seemed strange  roaming the hood without Lexi, but she just didn't have the energy to do the long haul. Her appetite seems to have perked up and she's quite happy to woof down the gourmet meals I'm cooking for her -boiled hamburger and rice. I mix a little of her dry food in just so she doesn't forget. By late afternoon I could see a bit of improvement in her, she wanted to go out and we walked around the yard - not long or far but it's a start. It's going to take time. Hopefully over the next few days she'll keep improving. Lots of Evening Grosbeaks and Goldfinches around, nice to see their bright yellow popping out of the trees.

 Red Breasted Nuthatch

Bird's nest in one of the apple trees.

 Oak Gall

The lichen on the trees looks so fresh and green - almost like lettuce.






Enjoy  your day!

Day 362 - 27th December 2016 - Evening Grosbeak and Snow covered weeds

Well that's it for the holidays, Larry goes back to work today. As great as they were we didn't seem to get much visiting in. Yesterday,  all my good intentions to go birding, got put to the back burner with a sick Lexi and a trip the Yarmouth to the Vet. After an exam and blood work it seems she has autoimmune hemolytic anemia - so we have pills and hopefully they will sort it out. Am boiling her up some hamburger and rice for breakfast. Trying to get some food in her to help build up her strength and take the pills. Fingers crossed we'll see a difference in a few days. Today I go back to the normal routine, lunch prep and muffins for Larry and maybe some roaming in the hood if the weather breaks. The rain is really coming down folks!

 Female Evening Grosbeak

 Since we are have hard rain this morning and I've not gotten out with Big B. A few snow shots!

Enjoy your day!

Day 361 - 26th December 2016 - Leaves, Ice and a Flag

It's Boxing Day! So what does that mean - well it was set out to be the first working day following Christmas (usually the 26th) that tradespeople, servants etc received a "Christmas Box" in gratitude for services well done through out the year. Now it's another holiday, although in Canada not a statutory one, so many people (government etc) will get it off but not most of those that it was originally set out to thank do not. In many places it's the big day of Sales! Can you imagine fighting your way through stores after having done it weeks before Christmas - not me. We had a lovely  day, Sunday - great food surrounded by most of the family.  I spent a lazy evening curled up reading in my pj's and had an early night. Maybe today we can make a trip somewhere in search of some birds. Temperature is -8 this morning, but should warm up some, rain is on the way tomorrow - lots of it.

Nature's debris is mostly frozen in the lake 

A flag gently blows in the wind.









Enjoy your day!

Day 360 - 25th December 2016 - Grandmother's Journal, Red Bike and Eagles

Merry Christmas Everyone! So the day has arrived, the rushing around, baking, cleaning, shopping and wrapping is over and done with for another year. Now to enjoy family and friends, a good meal or two and be thankful. We'll head in to Mom & Dad's later- Christmas breakfast and then back for Christmas supper. Look forward to seeing the youngest generation of our family all excited about their visit from Santa. Growing up, Christmas was always a day spent with family. I would make the 5:30 am call to Grandmother and Grandfather R, to come watch us open our gifts- she of course was sitting next to the phone, impatiently waiting for that call. One year in my excitement I dialed the wrong number and got someone who wasn't too happy to be woken up.
Grandmother's Journal:
24 December1979:Very mild.. I drove to town, stopped to tea with the girls. Bob,Bobbie & Mike came down later. Had a nice Christmas Eve with our family. 
25th December 1979: Lots of nice presents. Spent the night at Bobbie & Bettie's. Bob, Mike and Bobbie came to MC for most of the day. When they came home we had Christmas dinner. After dinner Bob & I came hope. Real nasty storm, high winds, heavy rains, lightening. Very mild and warm. I am very tired tonight. Had a real nice Christmas.

So this will be option number 2 if we don't get enough snow for snowshoes.

 Some pretty fungi on a branch.

There were two Eagles soaring over the lake.






Enjoy your day!

Day 359 - 24th December 2016 -Wreath, Oak Leaves and Goldfinch

It's Christmas Eve, I think I've got everything done that needs to be. Then on the other hand no one will really know but me what's not done. Another mild morning, rain in the forecast for later - at least that means the roads should be fairly good for those travelling. Looks like a green Christmas in this part of the world. Well I got everything done I planned to on Friday, gifts delivered, groceries done, food for Lexi and the birds. After lunch Larry spent a few hours in the wood pile, blocking up next years and  got the floors scrubbed up. Today is a day with no plans, except this evening we'll spent having laughs with family and friends. Although the Snowy Owls have returned to Baccaro...maybe a little road trip later.

 Nothing says the Holidays like a beautiful wreath.












The Oak trees seem to hold their leaves a little longer - through wind, rain, snow and wind.

A Goldfinch from one of our snowy days a week or so ago.









Enjoy your day!

Day 358- 23rd December 2016 - Evening Grosbeaks, Cranberry and Icee

Here we are at Friday once again, a few wet snow flurries out there this morning and probably another slippery morning on the roads. Temperature just hops up and down. Thursday afternoon was the same thing - rain/wet snow making for a messy drive.Got everything finished up yesterday but a few floors that need to have the mop run over them. Larry's off today, so later we'll take a run to town, deliver gifts and pick up those last few groceries I forgot on Saturday. Not like we are going to starve, but the birds need to eat and dog food is on the list - will be an expensive trip! The flock of Evening Grosbeaks are growing steadily - I counted 33 yesterday along with Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Nuthatches, Chickadees and Goldfinches. Still no sign of Redpolls.

Evening Grosbeak

 When a flock of them arrive, they can eat as much if not more than the Blue Jays

Cranberry frozen in time.







Enjoy your day!

Day 357 - 22nd December 2016 - Lake, Ivy, Ferns and a Wreath

Wednesday was another nice mild day, wind picked up in the afternoon. Didn't build a fire until after lunch, a lot different from last week where it seemed I fed the furnace constantly. I finished off the baking yesterday, time to put those cookbooks away for another year. Am beginning to find the tops of the kitchen counters again. It was a good day to roam, so Lexi and I took advantage and did a couple of outings. She loves to run through the woods, not listening to me most of the time, but on the road she's good. Nothing like nose to the ground to see what squirrel may have crossed paths with us. Stars were all out last night but this morning, the sky is dark, dark, dark not a twinkle in sight. Have a few gifts to wrap, then the paper can go away for another year and some house work to do up. Maybe if I move fast and get everything done this morning, I'll free up some "me" time this afternoon.

Clear day on the lake, frozen but not solid.

 Ivy growing along a neighbour's house foundation - still pretty and green.

 Those evergreen ferns are holding on. Last weeks weather beat  some of them down.

Looking festive with a wreath and greenery.









Enjoy your day!

Day 356 - 21st December2016- Blue Jay, Evening Grosbeak and Ice

Today is the first day of winter- it's officially today contrary to what we all experienced last week! It's the shortest day of the year. So after today the days will start getting longer, not that we'll notice for a while. Temperature is hanging at 0 and we've had a dusting of snow overnight. There wasn't a breath of wind Tuesday, perfectly calm and quiet. The only sounds I heard all day were the birds and the Woop of the lake. Things are winding down here and coming together, Larry picked up our lobsters last night and got them cooked. I got some more things done around the house.

Handsome devil!

 I'm not sure if he's sticking out his tongue or dropping a seed- Evening Grosbeak.

 Cranberries and Ice

The grasses along the shoreline are frozen in place now.





Enjoy your day!

Day 355 - 20th December 2016 - Cranberries, Evening Grosbeaks and Ice

The sky is filled with stars, but brrr it's cold out there. Temperature is -12 this morning. I've actually slept in or overslept however you look at it. The ice is beginning to make it's woop woop noises, echoing up and down the lake. Such a haunting sound. Looks like the sun might break out today but remain cold, tomorrow it's suppose to warm up again. Progress is being made, some tins filled yesterday, the last of the gifts put together, just need to be wrapped. Made a stew for supper, smelled so good simmering on the stove. Torture class last evening - yes we are going to hurt - too many squats involved!  Today I'll get around the hood for a roam, continue with things around the house, pay a few bills. Might even manage to have a day of no expectations this week!

 The Cranberry ditch finally has a little water which of course has frozen.

About 2 dozen Evening Grosbeaks blessed the yard yesterday.

 With the wind we've had lately the ditch has frozen in pretty patterns.

The lake is frozen in layers, but not safe enough to be on yet.






Enjoy your day!

Day 354 - 19th December 2016 - Brown Headed Cowbird, Blue Jay and Mourning Dove

Temperature is -2 this morning, so the commute to work may be slippery after  yesterday's rain - drive carefully.  Sunday was a stay in the house kind of day - tidied up, put the empty ornament boxes away, finished wrapping (well have a couple of gifts to put together today), scrubbed a floor, then curled up with a cup of tea and read for a bit. Larry cleaned the furnace pipe and did a few odds and ends around. Family didn't come - but we'll catch up sometime over the holidays. Today I'm going to finish up things in the kitchen and get the sweet treats sorted out and divided up.

 A Brown Headed Cowbird spent most of the day at the feeder.

 Mourning Dove

 Blue Jay

And one of the  very sparkly birds on our tree.





Enjoy your day!

Day 353 - 18th December 2016 - Blue Jays, Mourning Dove and Junco

We ventured to town yesterday morning to finish off some shopping and groceries. I hope I've got it all now! It was a nasty drive and snowed all day. We did take a little break and had lunch at Charlotte Lane - was nice to have a "date" with my hubby.  Seems we are always rushing in opposite directions. Went for a walk after we got home, then it was time to put up the Christmas Tree. She's up and decorated. Decorating the tree is kind of a pilgrimage to the past - memories of my Grandmothers' trees and ours as a child. The pines and firs that have graced our homes over the years - favourite ornaments, the years of tinsel "icicles" that made everything sparkle when the tree was lit - and you had to put on one strand at a time instead of handfuls like we wanted to.  Another thing off of my to do list. Christmas is coming together at our house - hoping today and tomorrow to finish up wrapping and baking. Temperatures are going to be milder this week with mostly rain instead of snow. Although I can see that being a bit icy underfoot. Have family coming to visit today providing the roads are good, will be nice to see them and catch up.

 One of many, many Blue Jays

 He was cracking seeds.

 And of course there were lots of Mourning Doves.

A Junco was gathering seeds on the ground.




Enjoy your day!

Day 352 - 17th December 2016 - Mourning Dove, Junco and Starlings

Friday proved to be the coldest day in a very long time. Thankfully the wind died out in the evening.  I don't remember weather like this in December being the norm, but maybe I just block those memories out. Last year I planted flower bulbs on Christmas Day! Puttered around the house in the morning, made a quick run to town after lunch to pick up and few things and whipped up some snacks for a party last evening. All in all not a hard day of work but I got stuff done. Of course had to roam the hood with Lexi who seems to like the cold and wants to go out more when it's miserable than fine. Hoping today to get all the grocery shopping done, pick up a few ends and odds in town and some gift certificates. Doesn't promise to be a great day - snow and then rain this afternoon - could be messy again folks, drive carefully.

 Sharing the feeder - Mourning Dove and Junco

 The Goldfinches like to hang out on the fence.

Starlings were hungry too.









Enjoy your day!