Sunday, December 7, 2014

Day 341 - 7th December 2014 - Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Chickadee and the Sun

Suppose to clear sometime this morning. Milder today, will build  a fire later. Maybe it's a good day to start the Christmas baking. I'm not going to do as much as a normally do. Good morning project then Lexi and I can spend some time out in the fresh air if it clears later. Made pizza for supper last night so there is one left over for supper tonight.
A wet and miserable Saturday. Another day at home. Of course the only photos I got were from the kitchen window. It's been so long since I've gotten out birding, I will have forgotten how. Did some more gift wrapping, laundry, etc. Lexi and I curled up on the sofa after lunch and read for a while. Larry was home a bit early.
Grandmother's Journal:
6 Dec 1976 - Beautiful winter day. Cold, Sunny. Bob & Tom to MC, set snares, look after pup. Busy in the store this morning. Knitting. Can't get interested in Christmas this year. 
7 Dec 1976 - Bob, Tom to MC early. I walked to work. Easterly winds coming in mild. Overcast all day. Light rain showers in late afternoon. High winds tonight. Much warmer. Wild night. Heavy rain, brook came way up. High winds. 

I love it when there are several different birds at this feeder - in this case - Chickadee, Goldfinch and Purple Finch.















The first Purple Finch at the feeders this season.
Checking to see who else is around.
She's a beauty!
A little sparkle around the grasses.
A few mornings ago.














Enjoy your day!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Day 340 - 6th December 2014 - Golden Sunrise, Frozen Droplets and Goldfinches

Another chilly morning, I made the fire before my coffee again today. The wood and I have not been on the best of terms this week. I've broken 2 nails, gotten a splinter in my hand and had a dozen sticks of wood roll down on me. All in the name of keeping the house warm. Hopefully we will reach a mutual agreement soon or it's going to be a long hurtful winter. Life in the country!  Today is suppose to be a wet one - more rain, like we need it. Lexi and I will have shorter walks, neither of us are keen on roaming around in rain this time of year. Think I'll tackle some more wrapping today, little computer work and maybe an hour curled up reading.
So I finally kicked myself and got some stuff done yesterday. In  less than 3 weeks will be Christmas and I better get moving.  I went around swiping cobwebs and dust, can't believe I just did a good cleaning not long ago, where does it come from so fast!! The Christmas tablecloth went on, as for the rest of the decorations not sure how much I will put up this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the Grinch or Scrooge, I just don't feel like hauling all those boxes out from the cupboard and putting things up then packing it all up and back again in a few week. Maybe feel differently and go dig the stuff out next week, who knows and of course we're putting up a tree! I enjoy seeing the Christmas lights and decorations but mostly at someone else's house. So I've rattled on a lot today.
The early morning sun coming through the trees always looks like the woods are on fire.
The lake in the background, shimmers and reflects the sun above.
A little morning Bling!








A little too much light, but it makes the leaves look soft and golden.
I love the frozen droplets around the bottom of the grasses.




A couple of our feeder visitors - American Goldfinches.



Enjoy your day!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Day 339 - 5th December 2014 - Sunrise, Chickadees, Junco and Pine Siskin

Friday again, weeks are flying by. Brr... it's cold this morning, guess we need to invest in a new digital indoor /outdoor thermometer. Maybe Santa will bring one - you never know. Built a fire while I was waiting for my coffee - still means it will be a while getting going and warming things up. As I write I hear the blower come on. No special plans today but I think I need to do up a list (to motivate/scare myself ) of things that need to be done before Christmas. That might jump start me...or not, who knows. Looks like a nice day so Lexi and I will get walking.
So it was Lexi and I home Thursday, no birding as Larry got called away. Oh well, it was a good morning for walking, mild, not a lot of wind and we tramped the hood. A few ducks in the cove, but other than that nothing terribly exciting. The Pine Siskin spent most of the day hanging around the feeders along with way too many Blue Jays, Mourning Doves and Chickadees and a few Juncos. The Goldfinches only stayed for a short time today and 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch. Whipped up my Italian sausage and rice casserole for supper, which of course is good for two nights. My kind of cooking. Did a wonderful station class with Cindy at exercise last night.
The sunrise was certainly powerful.

A pair of Mallards on the lake.
The Chickadees are such funny little birds.
Usually I don't see the Juncos on the fence.
Chickadees are everywhere.
I spied this little one late in the day, he seems to be missing his tail. Will keep my eye on him if he returns. Didn't appear to deter him any though.
The Pine Siskin. Wonder when he's bringing his friends!












Enjoy your day!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Day 338 - 4th December 2014 - Leaves, Ice, Reflections

Thursday and we are both home, this can only mean a birding day or at least part of the day. Now to figure out where to go - maybe Cape Sable Island this morning. Might find something interesting there. Giving a chance of snow/rain this afternoon and I should make some cookies for the lunch boxes tomorrow.  A few good hours of birding is just what I need to perk me back up  and get me going.
Another fun filled, wet Wednesday in town. Oh well, got some things down, power was out in places around town for a while around mid day. It was nice to get home to a nice cooked meal that I didn't have to cook - fish, mashed potatoes and veggies. Did I mention blueberry crisp for dessert - needless to say I ate a little too much. We have an equal opportunity household and DH really did a great job on supper! I think there was some thunder and lightening last night, but I don't think it lasted long.
Dried and crumbling Oak leaves.
Ice, Water and a few leaves.
A little Bling but not much.
The ice has encased the end of that stick and made feathery patterns.
Reflections in the ditch.






Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Day 337 - 3rd December 2014 - Sunrise, Foam, Lupin Pods and Grackles

Now it's the 3rd, yesterday I was a little confused, but that's not unusual lately. Don't you find this time of year you have too much on your mind and start doing stupid things you never have done before. Well maybe it's just me or perhaps it's the age. Not sure when or how I got to "that" age, but apparently I'm here and have good company since I know lots of others in the same boat. Maybe now is the time we start with "you are only as old as you think you are". So it's a town day, errands, appointments and some volunteer work. Rain for the day, which is the norm for Wednesdays.
Tuesday temperatures were definitely more seasonable - cool, very cool. Windy in the morning, but that did die out some in the afternoon. Lexi and I got out for a couple good jaunts, but soon I'll be digging out my snow suit. Fudge made, research done and I started wrapping a few gifts. I'm beginning to think someone has made off with my energy. I'm not getting as much done as I want to, that's for sure.
Just a hint of pink coming over the tree line when we first went out.
The thing with sunrises, they move much quicker than sunsets.
There were white caps on the lake in the morning and foam along the shore.

The last of the lupins - just a few seedpods.



Not a great shot (from a distance and through the kitchen window) but Harriett the Grackle brought a few friends around the other day. Love their color when the light hits them.








Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Day 336 - 2nd December 2014 - Feathery Ice and Chickadees

Brrr, a little chilly this morning. Temperature is right around 0, but we didn't have fire going yesterday so the house is cold this morning. Larry's gone, I'm up too early but will have my coffee before heading to the basement to built a fire in the furnace. Busy day and I have to get myself in gear. Need to make fudge and cookies at least, not to mention finish off research I promised someone. Not to mention Lexi and I need to get out and roam around.
Spent all day yesterday in a meeting/people talking at you event. Sometimes you go to these things and they are good, other times... I shouldn't say it that way, there were elements that were good and others that weren't so great. Larry had come home because it was windy and every time I looked out the window, I was wishing I was off birding. Picked up a few groceries and got home just in time to throw on the work out gear and go to exercise class. I really hate eating after class but it felt good to do the work after sitting all day.
 Since Big B. stayed home yesterday, I've pulled out a few photos from  a couple of days ago.
 A little more of that feather ice.

 There were Chickadees everywhere I went on Sunday. Such cute and friendly birds.








Enjoy your day!

Monday, December 1, 2014

Day 335 - 1st December 2014 - Pink skies, Feathery ice and Red-winged Black birds

Good Morning December! Oh wow that means we are now in the last month of the year, the month that holds Christmas and the month with the shortest day. It's a busy month. I'm off today for meetings. Have been going a little shack wacky so a change of pace may be a good thing, but I'd rather be birding. Wonder if anyone would notice Big B. under my arm? Nah best leave her home. Temperature feels pretty good today, not going to bother with a fire this morning, will build one when I get home.
Sunday was milder, Lexi and I got out for a number of walks. Weather looked good early but later in the  afternoon it became dark, grey and overcast. More time in the kitchen - roasted a chicken in the morning, did up potatoes, veggies, dressing. Then put all the leftovers in a pot along with some noodles and made soup for then next few nights. Rolled 6 1/2 dozen peanut butter balls, dipped 2 dozen in chocolate and froze the rest for dipping later. Did laundry and the other humdrum things.  Progress is being made but feels darn slow. Even managed an hour or two of research, although I wasn't really in the mood.
Hints of pink again in Sunday's sunrise.
 The Red-winged Blackbird returned yesterday morning. I'm thinking he's an immature male.
 I love the feathery look of the thin ice along the shore line.
 This would be a Golden-crowned Kinglet - cheeky little fellow!
 Ice along the edge, but a lovely reflection.
 The Chickadees and Goldfinches were around a good part of the day.
 Three RWBB returned around lunch time. Handsome!




Enjoy your day!