Day 349 - 19th December 2017- Blue Jay, White Breasted Nuthatch and White Throated Sparrow

Temperature has risen this morning with a little rain. Well you all know the saying- it's Nova Scotia -  wait 5 minutes and the weather will change. It's suppose to remain mild for a day or two. I don't mind a few warmer days but then when the temperatures dip again, it will be all icy underfoot. Larry went on a jaunt to town yesterday leaving me with a couple of hours to buzz around and do some work. I enjoy some time to myself at home - can get so much more done. He managed to get some wood in the basement after lunch. A good way to build his strength and stamina back up after the last couple of months of basic inactivity except exercises and walking. The feeders and yard are active these days. Nice to watch the birds, still no signs of Purple Finches, Pine Siskins or Evening Grosbeaks. Would be great if the Red Polls arrived this year too.

Our bright bird of winter - Blue Jay

 I love watching and listening to the White Breasted Nuthatches

The best I've done with the White Throated Sparrow. He hides in the Honeysuckle Bush.




Enjoy your day!

Day 348 - 18th December 2017 - Downy Woodpecker, Robin and Ice

It's cold, cold this morning, stars are lighting up the sky. I can hear an Owl calling in the distance, otherwise it's very still and quiet. Temperature was - 9 when we came home from the potluck supper last night and I'm sure it's colder this morning. Had a good turn out, Santa arrived with treats for the children and seniors. Nice to see so many out from the community. I spent most of the day working around the house, a  walk after lunch. Larry moved some wood around in the basement, preparing to add more from the woodshed. That time of year when we need to think about putting more in before the worse of winter arrives. The lake has started to freeze over, still a wide channel of water in the middle and my no means safe yet. Milder weather and possibly rain tomorrow will put an end to it.  A White Throated Sparrow has arrived at the feeders. He's pretty shy, no opportunity for a pic yet but will keep my eyes open for a chance. Guess I'll continue working around here today. Exercise class tonight.

Female Downy Woodpecker

A small flock of Robins were in the swamp.

Ice has arrived.


Enjoy your day!

Day 347 - 17th December 2017 - Grackle, White Outs and Ice Droplets

Brrr...it's cold out there this morning, but the stars are shining brightly in the sky and the snow is sparkling on the ground.  Wind has picked up since I first looked out. Snowed hard in the morning on Saturday but then stopped around lunch only to throw out a few flurries later on. It was a bit of a lazy day, puttered around cleaning up a few things including laundry. Enjoyed watching the birds at the feeder. The weather has brought more in - a  small flock of Starlings with a Grackle, Mourning Doves, a Song Sparrow, both Nuthatches, more Goldfinches, loads of Chickadees, Woodpeckers and two Juncos. Everyone was hungry so after cleaning out the furnace I filled up the  feeders. Big B and I did get out for a roam later in the day between flurries. Today I need to be more productive - finish filling up tins to give away, potluck supper at our Fire Hall so need to come up with something for that and a number of other things that need crossing off the to do list.

Grackle getting his fill.

White outs across the road.

Ice droplets in the lake.






Enjoy your day!

Day 346 - 16th December 2017 - Lichen, the Lake and Snow

Snowing again this morning - it's that fine stuff that adds up after a while. Looks like a good day to stay home. Will putter around, get the house back to rights and maybe put a few decorations out. If it stops later a walk with Big B will be nice. Friday we seemed to spend a good part of the day in town. Got everything on my list except a few things I forgot,but that's ok,will pick those up the first of next week.  Larry and I had lunch at the Beandock, I had to pick up a couple of things at the museum. Then it was off to Sobeys for groceries, and a few errands at the mall. It was mid afternoon when we got home. I went for a quick jaunt, stopped to Lois' for tea.  Had my first Junco of the season under the Honeysuckle bush before supper, hopefully a few more will join him.

 Snow on the tree lichen

 Wintery and  quiet at the lake

Still hanging on, but snow covered now. Some wild plants have great strength.



Enjoy your day!

Day 345 - 15th December 2017 - Snow, The Lake and Berries

A few snowflakes in the air this morning and  much colder than it has been.  Went out for a roam in the hood yesterday morning - to see the first snowfall. Through the path in the woods, it was quiet and pristine. No tracks ahead of mine except Max the cat. It was a bit of a hard walk for me, the first snow was one of Lexi's favourite walks. Her nose would be to the ground sniffing and throwing snow up in the air. Days like this make me miss her more. It's been eight months since we lost her and there are times I still turn around and look for her.  They say time heals, I hope so.  I probably should remember the good times, not be sad and sometimes I do.  I puttered around the house later,cleaning the upstairs, laundry putting away cookbooks for another year. No Thelma and Louise today, my partner in crime is otherwise committed so I'll drag Larry to town, do some errands, finish up the last few things I need to buy.

The old leaning tree is dressed in white,a skim of ice on parts of the lake.

A few red berries remain.

Pine branch covered in snow.





Enjoy your day!

Day 344 - 14th December 2017 - Snow, Canada Geese and Bear's Brook

A sliver of moon hangs behind the trees, the stars are twinkling in the dark sky. First real snow fall of the season. Winter has arrived, although technically it doesn't happen til the 21st but try telling Mother Nature that. Sounds like anyone that had to be on the roads last evening had a rough time - white out conditions and slippery underneath. What I can see on the deck looks like a couple of inches which was more than the weather people were saying (flurries - 1 cm). Probably not enough for me to get out my snowshoes though. It rained all morning on Wednesday but by noon it had pretty well stopped so we brought in the tree from the building. Went for a quick jaunt and then hauled out the decorations and spent the afternoon  trimming the tree. Finished the last of the cherry dipping. Baking is done for another year unless I get the crazy urge to do something more next week.  So even though I started off being behind things are coming together. Will do my purge/fall cleaning after the holidays this year.

 Snow and Ice on bushes

 Canada Geese

Snow at Bear's Brook on Tuesday




Enjoy your day!

Day 343 - 13th December 2017 - Baltimore Oriole, Snow Bunting and Canada Geese

We headed it off to Yarmouth Tuesday, wasn't a bad day to go shopping if one has to do it.  The stores were busy but not like a Saturday so I managed to cope. My shopping is all done except for a few things to pick up in town which I'll do later this week. The rain even held off til we got home. I was surprised going up through the back road it was all snow, still some on the sides when we returned in the afternoon.  Before going home we took a quick run around to a few birding spots and I was delighted to find a Baltimore Oriole and a flock of 50+ Canada Geese.  I think we'll get the tree up today, not sure about decorations but that might get done too. Will wrap what I picked up yesterday and do a few other things around. It's coming together.

Baltimore Oriole

 A single Snow Bunting on the back road.

A few of the many Canada Geese - yes some were in a Cemetery. They must be regulars there as I saw them a couple of years go in the same spot.


Enjoy your day!