Day 66 - 7th March 2014 - Sunlight, Cold Mornings and a Snowy Owl

For all those heading to work this morning - it's Friday! Rah! Temperature is -19.1, no doubt it will get lower. The good news is it's gong to warm up some for the next few days. Do I hear birding calling my name on the weekend - lets hope so. Have to put some more wood in the basement but maybe I can squeeze Sunday for an outing. Today, looks like housework and finish off the research I started Monday - got the answers I needed yesterday to fill in some blanks.
My last day of complaining about the weather. I've come to the conclusion that no matter what you say it doesn't do any good, but like all good Canadians it's the one thing that we can be miserable about - cold, snow, rain, heat. Yup we have 4 seasons and get it all especially in Nova Scotia.  It did warm up yesterday afternoon, the sun is gaining strength but we still came home to a house that was +11.5. I was not happy. Had coffee with my besties at 4 pm. It's been way too long since the three of us "sistas" have been able to catch up together. Like witches at the cauldron.

 The sun shot through the trees making bubbles of light.

 Shadows in the yard.

 Looking down the path as the sun shines on the trees.

 The sky was so clear it was easy to see planes going by, wonder if they are headed back to Halifax from a trip to a warm, sunny climate.

 Lots of bling and color on this branch.

 Still and cold.

 Unfortunately this Snowy Owl is still in Town. A couple of the girls alerted me to his perch and I was able to get some photos.

I'm concerned about his health, think he looks thin and a bit too docile. Crows were tormenting him as well.









Enjoy your day!

Day 65 - 6th March 2014 - Chickadees, BlueJays and Lexi

I am so tired of  winter, temperature this morning is -17, that's just way too cold. Heading in for my Wednesday today, just a day late but that's ok. Better late than never! For some reason this winter has gotten on my nerves more than any in the last few years. Just have the trapped feeling - maybe because we haven't had much of a break. I know most people are tired of it and it probably does no good to complain about it but here I am every morning doing just that! All the positive thinking in the world doesn't seem to change the weather. Well maybe a break in town today will do me good. Going in with Nancy this morning so I'll have a chance to catch up with her, will meet up with the girls for coffee this afternoon for natter.
Had a good day at home yesterday, puttered around, did some computer work and Lexi and I roamed the hood. Had to be careful - under all that snow places were icy. Going through the woods it was so quiet, not a sound except the snow falling from tree limbs. It always looks so magically until I remember I'm tired of winter.

 Got the seed and doing the Happy Dance.

 Heading for the feeder.

 The Chickadees love hanging out on the fence.

 Clouds over the lake. You can tell there was no school today, the kids in the hood were playing outside in the afternoon.

 Not much left of my Phlox.

 I guess everyone loves the fence.

I'm sensing a little attitude.

 Lexi had a few snowflakes under her chin.

Sometimes she likes to nap on the deck. Doesn't seem to bother the small birds that she's dozing under their feeder.







Enjoy your day!

Day 64 - 5th March 2014 - Chickadees, Forsythia and the Lake

Did we wake up to the snowstorm nobody called for? Looks like we have about 6 inches down already and it's still coming down - that fine snow which loves to build up. School is cancelled and that's my sign to stay home too. There have been a lot of snow Wednesdays this year. Guess Lexi and I will be roaming the hood in snow today - hopefully this is the last one.
I didn't think I would ever get warm yesterday, the cold just seem to go right through you. I know it was Pancake Tuesday, but I was craving some soup - that heats you from the inside out and smells so good as it simmers a good portion of the day on the stove. I made chicken, rice and veggies and it was good. Even better leftovers! I did make cookies for Larry's lunch too. Had a good chat on the phone with my cousin, love catching up with him. So part of the day was in the kitchen, the rest of the day - research work and around the hood with my girl.

 Lexi and I saw this little guy when we were out for our walk. He co-operated and I was pleased with the photos.

 I think he's studying his toes.

 The Mourning Doves seem to be pairing off.

 Brown and crumpled but I like the texture.

 I think it's Forsythia, maybe I should snip a few twigs to bloom in the house.

 Rhododendron.

 You would never believe it was so cold by looking at the sky and lake.

The swing waits for warmer days.














Enjoy your day!

Day 63 - 4th March 2014 - Windfalls, Birds at the Feeder and a Hawk

Still in the deep freeze! Temperature is -14.4 this morning, stars all out though if that's a good sign.  Suppose to warm up a tad today but nothing like we really want. I meant to make cookies yesterday for Larry's lunch box but I forgot so better put that to the top of my to do list today. I got so wrapped up in research it slipped my mine until almost supper time. Hopefully today I'll work a little more on the research, need to look up a few things in town when I go this week to call it done.
What a fabulous sunset last night and me without my camera. On the way to exercise the whole sky was lit up with crimson shades, Lois wouldn't turn around and go back for my camera so I just will enjoy it as a memory. I spent most of the day doing research, got one project just about done. Lexi and I roamed a couple of times but I'm getting tired of wondering if ice is under that layer of snow and walking careful. The woods are easier to manage however.  Cooked a nice roast for supper, being on the lazy side, potatoes, carrots and bean went in the roast pan too. Can't believe we are still eating vegetables from the garden. The carrots aren't frozen, larry put those in a tote box with sawdust in our cold room and they've kept all winter. They sure taste good.

 The trees are all dipped in snow once again.

 Lots of windfalls this winter.

 The nieghbour has a lot of cleaning up to do.

 This barrel is usually filled with Impatiens all summer.

 The Chickadees seem to be multiplying. Occasionally I hear them singing their spring song.

 A good reason the birds all scattered, this Hawk was flying overhead. I was sitting in the kitchen window with my camera and caught him. We have a lot of hawks go over the house, must be part of the runway!

 The Juncos are still hanging out too.

Looking proud.















Enjoy your day!

Day 62 - 3rd March 2014 - Palm Warbler, SeaShore, Gulls and Ducks

Monday morning, the work week begins again - brrr -5.3, little chilly out there and no stars in the sky this morning. Think I'll continue with an hour or so of spring cleaning I started last week and some research today. Of course it wouldn't be a day home unless Lexi and I roamed the hood. This time of year I'm not sure what we are searching for but maybe we'll luck in and find something. Exercise class tonight, since I skipped last Thursday night my body will be hurting for sure. That's me in a nutshell - not seeing anything exciting happening today. Sometimes that's just a good thing.
We had mostly a lazy day on Sunday. I did do some laundry and a few things around the house but other than that neither of us did much - just chilled mostly. We were going to go for a drive and hunt for some ducks and birds but the snow flurries started by noon so that kind of killed our idea. Since it wasn't a great day to take photos and I'm tired of snow anyway, I decided to did back through some pics from warmer days - early fall - my favourite time of year. Hope they start your week off on an up note.

 Palm Warbler - I'm impatient for spring migration.

 One of our beach trips - always gulls.

 What a clear beautiful day it was.

 A Great Blue Heron wading around.

And ducks flying off - Teals, I think.











Enjoy your day!

Day 61 - 2nd March 2014 - Blue Skies, Melting Snow and Woodpeckers

Stars aren't out this morning, they were last evening but they are giving a bit of rain/snow this morning so chances aren't that's why. Temperature is -2.3, a slight difference from the freezing temperatures we felt yesterday morning when we woke up. Sunday and I'm letting Larry sleep in, well good chance he doesn't want to get up at 5 - 5:30 am anyway. Time to get our things together for income tax time and see what else I have to wait for - probably RRSP receipts as they never come in time from the banks. I can usually count on 1-2 of those strolling in later this month. Sounds like a fun project for a Sunday. It shouldn't take too long I try to shove everything in an envelope as it arrives.
It really warmed up yesterday, the sun is gaining it's strength - so nice, just wish the rest of the weather would perk up. Would have been a good day to head to the coast and hunt for ducks and birds but it was also a good day to put wood in the basement - the wood won out. I took a long walk around the hood - pretty quiet, heard the odd chickadee but that was about all. Had tea and a chat with Lois, nice to catch up.

Bright and sunny, fluffy clouds in the sky now if we could just free up that ice.

 I did a few black and whites today.
Melting snow.

From the downspout!

Snow coat.

 Lois had a male Downy Woodpecker at her suet.

 I had a female in my feeder.

 Sun setting over West McKay Lake.

Enjoy your day!

Day 60 - 1st March 2014 - More Snow, Clouds and Shadows

Here we are at the third month of the year. I'm hoping to see a little spring before too long, although it's looking colder for the next few days. It's -18.6 which is probably one of the coldest nights we've had. No wonder Larry wanted me to turn the fan off when I got up. Yes I'm still sleeping with the window open and most nights I can get away with it, the fan on. Off for groceries this morning. Larry's got to put some more wood in the basement - starting to get low, so I hope it warms up a bit later today. Seems we've burned a lot but I think that every year. I'm thinking pizza for supper so guess I'll be whipping up pizza dough when we come from town. Would be a good day to go somewhere but I don't see that in the cards.
Am really tired of taking "winter" photos when Lexi and I walk the hood these days. The snow was pretty on all the trees yesterday morning but I think like most people I'm tired of it. I started a bit of the spring cleaning  - ugh seems I just did the fall cleaning. I won't be so indepth as I was in November. I can't believe how quickly the dust and cobwebs return. Will do a little more next week and before you know it, it will be done and Spring Warblers will have arrived (or that's my hope).

 We had a bit of a blizzard yesterday morning, not sure if the Starling is taking cover or trying to get the suet.

 Everything was a winter wonderland again.

 I like the shadows of this poor leafless tree.

 Don't fool yourself - those clouds might look pretty but it was darn cold out.

Enjoy your day!