Day 7 - 7th January 2013 - Lexi, Snow and Birds

Monday morning and I slept until 5 am - happy, happy, happy! Temperature is up to -4.7, which is a tad warmer than it has been. Lots to do today, have good friends coming for supper and the night so have chili to make, maybe a cranberry/blueberry cake with a lemon or vanilla sauce for dessert and muffins to go along with breakfast in the morning. I really should make chocolate chip cookies for the lunch boxes too. I noticed while shopping the other day that the guy Larry works with has taken to buying store bought cookies  - they are just not the same. Yeah, I'm a softie, sometimes. Of course there will be our walks, and some other stuff that needs to be taken care of - beds, etc.
Yesterday was snowy all day. I did some chores up around the house, but got distract watching the birds at the feeder and the snow coming down [obviously my attention span is nil these days]. I was so calm and peaceful sitting in the kitchen window. We cooked turkey with all the trimmings for supper - looking forward to leftovers and not thinking about what's for supper this week! On my list to make is Darrell's  "Turkey with Cheese Biscuits".

Not to be upstaged by the birds Lexi insisted on going out in the snow and posing for me.

 The snow was building up.

 Picked up another feeder in town - I see a chickadee hiding on the other side.

 Snowflakes

 It was like a winter wonderland.

The resident Blue Jay, didn't bring any friends with him this time.



















Since I've slept in this morning, guess it's time to get moving. Enjoy your day!

Day 6 - 6th January 2013 - Flowers, Ice, Woodpecker and the Lake

Another bitter cold morning, the temperature is -14.3. So it's suppose to warm up, snow and then rain today - ah sounds like a mess to me as tomorrow will be colder again - ice underfoot, better take care walking. I went to bed super early last night and did manage to stay in bed til shortly after 4:30 am which is pretty good, at least I got some solid sleep. Other than cooking and enjoying the taste of that turkey, I have no idea what's going on today. I guess I better make some chocolate chip cookies too. Maybe we'll just see what happens.
Really was much milder yesterday, warmed up but then cooled off in the afternoon and the wind picked up. Temperature was dropping quickly in the evening before I went to bed. Did the grocery shopping yesterday - even if you don't pick up much you've still spent $50. I get those things on sale that we use regularly unless I'm really stockpiled and then the norm of bread, milk and eggs. Of course those three things amount to $20. so you know I didn't get much else and in the meat department I only bought ground pork (that was $5.11). It might have been cheaper to buy a lobster! Oranges were on sale as was Becel and other than that there wasn't too much else in my cart. Oh well, next week we will try again. I'm so glad we put down a lot of our own vegetables from the garden, that does save me some money. I know fresh is better, but from my garden either fresh or frozen is best. I did buy a turnip to go with the turkey today. Enough ranting about the high price of groceries. If I'm going to do a "big shop" and the sales are good I often venture to Barrington and check out their 2 grocery stores - what luxury!

 Soft and fluffy snow cone.

 Wonder if they'll come back and live here next summer.

 Beautiful view of the lake yesterday.

 I like the long arms of the tree shadows as the reach across the snow covered lake.

 Lois has a new bird feeder, this chickadee hasn't quite figured out how to get in.

 Everything is frozen in time.

 The sun dances along the icicles creating dots of pink.

Mrs. Woodpecker enjoying some fat.




















Time to catch up on scrabble. Enjoy your day!

Day 5 - 5th January 2013 - Blue Jays, Lexi and A Sunrise

Very mild this morning at -2.1, that' pretty good compared to temperatures earlier in the week. I don't think I've been to town in at least a week except for New Year's Day for supper, so today is grocery day - blah. Well shouldn't need a lot - this time of year I try to stick to the staples of bread, milk, eggs and not much else. Larry, I'm sure will spend part of the day putting wood in the basement, doesn't take long to burn up when you have a cold week. I guess I'll get in a good walk and tidy up around the house. I'm not sure how much more of that excitement I can truthfully take, time to get a project started.
A mostly snowy day here yesterday in the country. I did get the pants all hemmed after a while. I got distracted with the birds at the feeder so that chore took a little longer. Lots of Blue Jays who are most entertaining and very colorful against the white background. Lexi and I roamed around the neighbourhood, caught the sunrise in the morning. And I should note that the temperature continued to drop, last time I looked it was -13 and Larry said the truck was reading -16 when he drove to work. Brrr! I took a turkey out to cook on Sunday - I know who wants turkey the week after the holidays, but... when you eat out there are no leftovers and it falls under the heading of comfort food. At least dreams of hot turkey sandwiches do. It's a good winter meal and will no doubt last all week. We've got company coming on Monday so I won't subject them to it as I know they had turkey this week.

This was my favourite shot yesterday. Not sure what was said but looks like someone is in a lot of trouble!

 I think he`s trying to convince her he didn`t do anything wrong and she`s not buying it!

She`s still not happy!

I think she`s throwing him out. They are lots of fun to watch. Lexi and I sit on the window seat in the kitchen and enjoy their antics.

There was probably 8-10 Blue Jays in and out of the bushes and around the feeder.

 Lexi, an Australian Shepherd seems to be very happy laying in a snowbank while the snowflakes drift down on her.  I`m sure she has spent more time on the deck and her pen since winter came then she did all summer.

We decided to take in the sunrise - pretty over the frozen lake. You can hear the lake growling below the ice.












Time for the second cup of coffee. Enjoy your day!

Day 4 - 4th January 2013 - Boats, Snow and Ice

Friday and not quite as cold as the last few mornings, only -9.7. Well hoping it warms up some as the day goes on. Weekend is almost here, another week has flown by. I keep wanting to write  2012, not quite use to the new year yet. I suppose in another week or so it will come naturally. I should tackle the rest of the alterations [mostly cutting off and hemming up pants - why do they have to make pants so long?] today so I can then move on to one of my resolutions of sorting through photographs and organizing them next week. Resolutions are best kept when they are still fresh in your mind otherwise they tend to be forgotten. I have a couple big tables in my sewing room which will be perfect for laying them out and going through them. Think I'll start with family photos first. If I spend a couple of hours/day I should be able to have them done by spring? Lets hope. If I'm feeling really energetic I should scan the family ones for future projects.
Began to snap out of my post holiday slump yesterday and tackled some research. Of course not research I'm suppose to do but some I wanted to do - something to jump start me again. I'm tackling some Newfoundland genealogy for a friend, there are times I just need a bit of a challenge and [no offense] I get a little tired of  our local surnames. I find this always works and gives me a little extra experience in a different direction. Anyway as luck would have it I found some information. I'll search a little more today.  Had a good exercise work out last evening, Cindy didn't work us too hard just enough to get us back in the swing of things. No pain this morning but then sometimes that kicks in the second day!

 The boats are tied up for the season.

 When the sun hits the snow at just the right angle is sparkles - a girl can use a bit of bling once in a while.

 The clouds were big and fluffy.

 With the wind we've had and snow flurries it's made pretty neat patterns across the ice.

Could make a nice nest for something next spring.













I suppose it's time to get moving. Enjoy your day!

Day 3 - 3rd January 2013 - Ice and Snow

Another cold and early morning, -10.6. I'm enjoying the bird feeder, the Chickadees  were flitting between the feeder and trees near by. Although there doesn't seem to be many other kinds. Maybe when we've used up this container of feed we'll switch, I'll ask around and see what other people use, or maybe it just requires being patient a little longer. Back to exercise class tonight, hoping Cindy's not too rough on us, it's been 2 weeks and too many chocolates.
Boy was it cold and windy yesterday, especially out on our walks. Going through the woods wasn't so bad as we had the shelter of the trees. I'm thinking that the next trip to town I need to head over to Frenchys and check out the snow/ski pants, everything else is toasty warm but I could use those. Did all that domestic stuff, laundry, dishes, shortened some pants from Christmas, etc. I'm getting tired of that so now to find something more entertaining. It's also that time of year that grant proposals for summer students, etc need to be written and that's always fun [not] and I've got some research to get back in to. Those I'll get underway next week and don't usually take too long.
Thought I'd check in to Grandmother's Journal today:
2nd January 1973
Lovely winter day. Quite windy. bob and two boys to M.C. Home just before supper time. They stayed for supper. Chuck Gregory house burned to night. Lost everything.
3rd January 1973
Snow all morning. bob to MC. No cat tracks. Cold.
4th January 1973
Lovely winter day cold. Down to V. School [Vocational] got my hair done. Mother also. Me to part at Maizie Bruce's, nice afternoon. No cat tracks at MC.

The sun hits ice droplets on the tree branches in the woods.

 The Chickadees spent lots of time at the feeder,  at one count I think I saw around a dozen out the kitchen window.

 Icicles hanging off the back porch overhang.

 The sun hits the snow on the porch roof.

 Looks like it's frozen all the way across the lake, probably not thick enough yet for skating.

And the wind blows stirring up a little snow squall over the lake.













Time to take my turns in scrabble. Enjoy your day!

Day 2- 2nd January 2013 - Snowflakes and a Walk at Island's Park

Back to work for most folks, but it is a short week, you've already made it to hump day! It's the coldest morning yet, temperature is -10.2, Brrr. Suppose to be cold all week. I guess Lexi and I get back to the routine as well, some things around here to do, a few walks and take a look at the  projects we want to do for this year. Was suppose to go into the city but didn't have to, since the temperature is only suppose to be -7 or 8 today just as glad to stay home and keep the fire going. That's the big problem with wood - someone  needs to be home to put it in the furnace or it gets pretty chilly late in the day.
Sometimes when I get up too early and I'm trying to be quiet the best place to roam is the Internet. I subscribe to several photography newsletters/blogs and haven't had time to catch up on them lately so that's what I did yesterday morning. Snowflakes caught me attention and my mind started to turn. A little more research on the topic and realized I didn't really have what I needed but thought I'd give it a try anyway. Had to wait until daylight and the rest of the house to wake up. What a great morning - the flakes were falling from the sky, so out I went dressed for the occasion to capture snowflakes. Not bad for my first try...almost there. Off to Mom and Dad's at 2 pm followed by a walk over at Islands Park. All in all not a lot done but a fun day!

 I was really looking for single snowflakes.

Almost there - a couple at the top I can see distinctive shapes.

 So this is the reason I don't clean out my garden beds (or the excuse I use).

 So many interesting shapes for snowflakes to gather on.

Looking over at Dock St. from Island's Park. Lots of people walking at the park.

 Nice show of color.

 I guess someone else found New Year's dinner.

And we ran into Abby and her owners. That's as far as we got and turned around and walked back out to the truck with them.











Well time for another coffee. Enjoy your day!

Day 1 - 1st January 2013 - A New Day, Month and Year

Happy New Year Everyone! Well I decided to start back at day 1 and work forward again this year. Temperature is -3.0 and I'm still up earlier than I'd like to be. Oh well, guess 2013 isn't so different yet from last year. We are off to have dinner with family at my parents this afternoon. I hear roast and cheesecake is on the menu so sounds pretty good. Did I mention something about losing a few pounds, that probably won't help. At least the cheesecake is not in my house so I'll only be tempted to eat one piece rather than inhale the leftovers - resolve is back! The rest of the day will probably be fairly lazy except I either get a walk in before going or when we get home. May take my camera and go over to the park for a jaunt afterwards depending on the weather.
Life was back to normal yesterday, Larry went to work, Lexi and I at home tending the fire, doing laundry and other fun stuff. I did make some mini quiches to nibble on last evening, used ham in some, shrimp in others. They were tasty. We visited friends up the road early in the evening and then were home by 9ish and I headed to bed around 10:30 - not often do I make it to ring in the New Year.

 There are two sets of burgundy chairs in the neighbourhood. The wind was blowing hard the other evening and the water actually froze in waves/ripples.

 I'm sure it's not frozen thick enough for skating yet and there is still lots of open space towards the centre.

 I like the frozen droplets along the shore and rocks.

 This poor little cherub looks chilly.

 Lexi waiting for me on the path during our walk.

 We were the first ones through the path since the snow had fallen, only her tracks go ahead of me.

 Shadows of light and trees on the new snow.

The lake was pretty but really cold as the wind blew hard across it.