Day 24 - 24th January 2013 - Another day of Cold, Snow and Birds

Oh I spoke too soon the other day, was up by 4 am and boy is it cold this morning. The temperature is -15.1. Maybe I can convince Lexi she doesn't want to go out to play too much today. She loves the snow and cold but then her feet ice up and we have to stop and brush out the snow and ice. Time to get some words down for the last grant application for this month (due next week). I think I've got things more or less in my mind. Guessing there will be lots of birds around - they will be hungry again in this cold, would really like to have a new visitor or two. Exercise class tonight - hopefully the weather and the roads will be decent.
Feels like each day gets a little colder this week if that's possible. Yesterday was miserable. I think I got my work out - how many times did I go up and down those basement steps putting wood in the furnace - lost count and then of course there is the wood which is very similar to weights. I usually make more trips than Larry just because I can't seem to get the big wood in and I'm home so it doesn't really matter. I can use the extra "steps and weights". As we were tramping through the woods yesterday I thought to myself - I'm sure not many photographers carry their camera in a plastic grocery bag. There was so much blowing snow. I hate getting it wet and don't have one of those covers or protectors for weather so I make do with what I have. It works - I just pull it up over the camera and away I go, keeps the weather away - although I don't usually take it out in heavy snow or rain.
From Grandmother's Journal:
24th January 1974 - Beautiful day. Bob to M.C. No snow. Clouded over in late afternoon. Mother and I had our hair done. Shopped. Bridge at Joyce's.
25th January - Beautiful winter day. Bob to M.C. for the day, no snow. Doris M. and I out for a walk in the afternoon. More like a March day. Up to Ohio tonight for Classy. She was over to Bruce McKay's. Ran away.
[Classy was one of my dogs, unfortunately she spent more time on the run then behaving herself or hunting. She would scale an 8' fence and be gone. That particular day she probably went about 20 miles.]

 No one had yet been through the path.

 Lexi makes the first tracks - she loves it.

 Over the windfalls she goes.

 Lexi and I - Shadow portraits! Think another day I try for taller and skinnier.

Thank goodness a little color against all that white snow covered ice and bleak sky.

Came across a Male Hairy Woodpecker in the woods, could hear another one but didn't see it.

 Chickadees don't seem to have a lot of patience, but they are happy sounding little fellows.

 The Goldfinches - didn't stop long to rest - it was too cold.

This Red Poll is puffed up trying to stay warm.




















Well I sure need another coffee this morning. Stay warm and enjoy your day!

Day 23 - 23rd January 2013 - Bread, Soup and Snow

Another very cold morning, temperature is -12.5. Too cold for me to make my regular weekly trek to town for the day to do volunteer work and errands. My winter job is keeping the wood furnace going and I will gladly do that today. It was snowing again when I got up, and I'm up a tad bit earlier than I have been the last few weeks, hope I'm not backsliding. It's been really nice sleeping til at least 5 am. I've got one more grant application due before the end of the month, it's a little more involved, so I should take an hour to gather my thoughts about that and get something started. Of course I'm sure Lexi and I will spend some time outside.
Had a lovely day, Tuesday even though it was a snowy, stormy day. Spent the whole day in the kitchen - made no knead country bread. Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.docaitta.com/search?q=no+knead+country+bread While the bread was rising I started some Chicken, rice and veggie soup. And of course before the day was out there I made chocolate chip cookies. Tried some bird treats, but not really happy with the recipe so will have to do some revisions to that before trying it out again. Lots of walks with my sled dog or she seems to think she is when it snows.

So I couldn't wait til supper to try it. I cut into one of those small loaves. Nothing like bread out of the oven and still warm with butter.

Nothing like home made bread and soup on a cold winter day. It didn't last long. Next week I may try brown bread.

Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?

 Not quite sure what he's up to.

 The goldfinches seem to hang out a lot with the red polls.

 You could hardly see across the lake.

This little whited breasted sparrow is kind of shy, but seems to be taking a stand here, or perhaps he's just brave because he's alone for a few minutes.











Definitely need another coffee this morning - if not to wake me up, to warm me up. Enjoy your day!

Day 22 - 22nd January 2013 - Ice and Cold

Snowing this morning and the temperature is -8. Checked the weather and the big "red - snowfall warning bar" is in place. Sounds like another snow day for the schools. Today is going to be a kitchen day. Planning on Chicken soup and homemade bread, oh and the cookies I didn't get baked yesterday. Haven't made bread in 20+ years but Darrell has inspired me and it was on my bucket list for 2013. Wish me luck! If I'm feeling very ambitious might even make some treats for the birds - they can use a little extra this week. I think it will be a very relaxing kind of day.
Monday was not one of my stellar days. I was geared to do the grant writing, figured two hours tops until I went to the Provincial website - too bad our government can't get it's act together to do online like everyone else. Had to print it and fill it in by hand, it was a PDF but not fillable. Oh but the good news for 2013 is you can now email them - what's the point if I have to scan it - more work. Since it's printed I might as well snail mail it. Oh I did try converting it to a word doc. - after I found a converter on line that didn't charge, that came out a mess and took more time. Can't say NS isn't old fashion - well at least the Government is. My rant of the day - done! I called a friend and whined to her, she's written them in the past and understands what things are all about and it was time to catch up with her and see how she was feeling. I love chatting with Kim. She's pretty upbeat and one of those people you can say what you really want to with out feeling they will be insulted or upset - even swearing occasionally is ok. Exercise class last night - good work out and a big crowd.

 Looks nice, but really cold.

 Layers of ice.

 A little blip of ice.

 My fav - cranberries.

 This poor little guy was on the shoulder of the road, not sure where he came from but doesn't look like he made it.

 Blue skies and a slick lake.

Layers of ice and cranberries, sounds like a drink!

And of course we had to get a few birds!

Day 21 - 21st January 2013 - Fast Water and A Woodpecker

Monday, Monday  and it's -2.4. Suppose to be really cold  all week so I won't be venturing far. Back to work for most people and I've got grants to write today. I've been trying to get myself in the right mindset for those. I'm sure a friend of mine that works in another institution has hers all done, she just whips those out as soon as we get the notice. I like to roll them over in my mind first. It's been 9 years of doing them so they are getting a little dull maybe that's why. I don't think I'll have Colin returning so that also means I'll have to hire and train a new student - most years [except one] I've been really lucky with my choices. Some have returned which always makes my life easier and one is actually our President and my boss now which we find kind of funny.
Wow - what a beautiful but very windy day we had on Sunday. Temperatures were up to +10 - was that a glimpse of spring? Nah suppose to be cold the rest of this week. For those of you who are tired of the birds, (but there will be a few) here is something different to view.

 Took a jaunt up the road to view the river yesterday afternoon.

 I love the fast water. Larry and I have actually canoed down through this - I'm not one to get out and portage.

 Love the bubbles along the foam.

A little too cold for me.

Looking from the bridge.

 This female Hairy Woodpecker landed on the post that holds up the porch roof.

After a few minutes she found the feeder on the deck and settled in for breakfast. She's about 5 feet from me sitting on the window seat in the kitchen.










Larry and Lexi will soon be up, time to put the coffee back on. Enjoy your day!

Day 20 - 20th January 2013 - Birds, Feeders, Lake and Clothesline

A nice little sleep in this morning til 5:30 am, partly because Lexi was snuggled in and I didn't want to move her. Temperature is mild at +2.5. Have to tidy up around here today and get some things done, can't watch birds all day. Tomorrow I need to crack on and tackle the summer student funding applications - I have 3-4 grant applications that need to be written before the end of the month. So Monday is the day to tackle them. Sooner they are done the quicker I can do other things, right!
Well yesterday fluttered away - not sure where it went. The day began really cold but by supper time was +3.0, went from snow to wet snow to rain at times. What we call Nova Scotia weather, wait a few minutes and it changes. It was off to town in the morning for groceries, banking. Well the banking went down the tubes pretty quick as the CIBC machine wouldn't do deposit. Oh yes it would let you take money out but not put it in. What really annoyed me [yes this is a rant] that there were three people there and they had all been there the following evening and it didn't work, one had made a call to the 1-800- number. Still no one had come to fix it!! So a 20 minute drive and I can't put money in which means I can't pay bills today. Umm.... should they pay for my gas? I think so. Rant over! We stopped on the way home to friends who have had a Barred Owl in their woods to see if we could find it today, but no luck, however I did get some good photos of the birds at her feeder. Home for a late lunch, a walk, watch the birds and Larry got ready to go to town.

 Evening Grosbeaks at Carolyn's feeder.

 The woodpecker is enjoying some lunch.

 We came home to find lots of Red Polls and Goldfinches on the deck. This one posed for me.

 Carolyn also has a squirrel who likes the feeders.

Another of our Goldfinches waiting for the feeder to free up.

There are always a bunch hanging out on this feeder.

One of the old apples trees around the area - not much for apples anymore but they are still interesting.

 Looking across the lake - seems rather gray and dismal.

It was a little cool for hanging out clothes the last few days.













Must go take my turn at scrabble. Enjoy your day!

Day 19 - 19th January 2013 - Visitors at the Feeder, The Lake and Sky

Another nippy morning, temperature is -11.2. It's suppose to warm up to +4 today, that will be welcoming, then in comes some rain this evening - Blah! Not sure what we have planned for today other than I know it's grocery day. Would like to go to Lockeport and see if the Snow Geese are still around - they've had a pair there for a while now and they'd be kind of cool to see. Larry has an evening out with the guys so he'll be leaving around supper time, so we'll be pressed for time if we do that today. Maybe we'll just see where the day takes us. That could be fun too and there is always tomorrow if the weather is fit. I'm sure he will want to put wood in sometime over the weekend.
Brrr... it was cold yesterday. The temperature never got up past -8 all day. Lexi and I got some good tramps through the woods though, dressed in our new cap and mittens from Christmas I was warm, especially with wool socks hand knit by my Mom.  Karen stopped for a warm up on her way back up the hill in the morning as she was out for her walk. Nice to have a visitor and a chat over tea and hot chocolate. Spent sometime trying to do research on photographers during the 19th/20th century but some how or another I went from photographers to care/handling of old photos [I can understand that one] but then I ended up in Nippon china - of which I have a few pieces. Not exactly what you would call a natural progression, but that's usually how my internet research goes.

 He was playing peek-a-boo over the roof of the feeder.

 Resting on the fence during the snow. They were pretty hungry in that cold weather.

 The sky began to open up with blue patches.

 These boats are in for the winter.

Cozy? Probably not for a few more months.

 Nice when everyone is getting a long and can share of feeder - Red Poll and Goldfinches.

A new visitor today - White throated Sparrow.













Time for another coffee. Enjoy your day!