Day 354 - 20th December 2015 - Red-Winged Blackbird, Eagle and Mourning Dove

A wintery morning out there. Everything is covered in a layer of snow and it's blowing. Sleep was longer so it should be a better day and I will be less cranky. I've been thinking about heading to Cape Sable Island for another try at those Mountain Blue Birds. We've got a birthday party to go to this afternoon so could stop at that on the way back. Maybe I'll just wait and see where the day takes us. Perhaps no plan is the best plan.
Oh the sleepless night caught up with me yesterday. Town in the morning - lots of errands, shopping etc done. On the way down I spotted an Eagle - he landed on top of a pine tree. A few minutes later another one flew from the same tree but further below. First time I've seen two in the area together, wonder if we've got a breeding pair. That would be very cool indeed.  Lois says she she had seen two a number of years ago but in the last three years I've been watching. When we got home in the afternoon I spied a Red-Winged Blackbird hanging out with Mourning Doves.

Red-Winged Blackbird and Mourning Dove.

 I was still quite a ways from them - Eagle.

One flew then the other across the road. 

We seem to have a lot of Mourning Doves these days.







Enjoy your day!

Day 353 - 19th December 2015 - Weeds, Junco and Grandmother's Journal

Just another too early morning. Going to be  a busy day - library to take down exhibit, have to print off the research paper also groceries and a little last minute Christmas shopping. Maybe I can snag a nap sometime this afternoon before the headache and stupidity hits.
Friday was just another overcast dreary day. Man I'm getting tired of those, a little sunshine would be very welcomed! Finished off the research, did some more wrapping (almost done) and the normal puttering around the house. Lexi and I roamed a bit but there seriously is nothing around except an abundance of squirrels, I'm sure. Never give up  - right!
Grandmother's Journal: 
18th December 1976: Not a bad day, seasonal not too cold but real dirty walking. Roads and streets are plowed and salted. Cold tonight. Bob, Bobbie, Mike & Tom looking for cat - no luck. I worked in the morning Bettie & Kim came up. We went with Mother up to Farmer's Market. Shopped around town until supper time. Kim up for all night. 
19th December 1976: Beautiful day. Clouded over before night. Bob, Bobbie, Mike & Tom to MC. No game today. Snares etc. snowed in. Kim up for supper spent most of the afternoon.

There are still a few weeds holding their own along the roadside.

The Junco is shy and tries to hide out in the Honeysuckle bush.

A Dragonfly from a nicer day.











Enjoy your day!

Day 352 - 18th December 2015 - Goldfinch, Rooster and a Squirrel

Raining this morning. Well it's mild and you don't have to shovel it. Suppose to stop and then start up again this afternoon. At least Lexi and I should get a good walk in without getting too wet. Today is just a repeat of yesterday. Going to finish up some computer work, maybe decorate some more cookies and dip some cherries. Not a very fascinating day!
Walks are so quiet these days - hardly  a sound. A few Crows or Blue Jays, maybe a Chickadee. I got out before the rain, although it was overcast with the sun fighting to come through. It was short lived. I stopped to check out Lois' feeders in the hopes she had something interesting and different there but not much luck. It was mostly an inside day of holiday prep and computer work.

Goldfinch - there is a small flock of about a dozen around.

Lois has the same things in her feeders as I do.

And there is the Rooster looking all pleased with him self perched on the brush decorated railing.

Of course if there is nothing else you can always find Chickadees - cute and friendly.











Enjoy your day!

Day 351 - 17th December 2015 - Birdhouses, the Harbour and Berries

Sleep came last night from exhaustion. The 4 am eventually catches up to the point where I can barely function by early evening. So I feel much better this morning and will take advantage of a good day. Rain on the way later today and into tomorrow. I've got some things around the house to finish up as well as a research project. I need to do up a list of things left to do and pick up on Saturday when I go in town. 
Another Wednesday bites the dust. They wear me out  - rushing around, trying to get things done. Oh well, it is what it is. I roamed along Water Street first and then cut down Charlotte Lane to Dock Street for my morning walk. Another spot that stirs memories of stories from my grandfather. His family lived on the lane for a while - long before my time. That set of Great Grandparents had passed long before I was born, but kept alive through family photos and stories. Thankful that my Grandmother kept a journal, I wish my Grandfather had as well. All the things I thought I would remember I don't - just details here and there.

A bush full of bright black/blue berries.

This house has the most interesting birdhouse replicas on it's property.

Looking up the harbour in the cove.

A street light still burns on Charlotte Lane.









Enjoy your day!

Day 350 - 16th December 2015 - Rosehips, Snowbunting and Chickadee

Well we are half way through he last month of the year.  Not sure where the time has gone. It's Wednesday and town day, going to be a long day since once again I'm up at 4am. Maybe 4 is the new 5 ! Oh well making progress on my book - which is a good read. Half way through and I haven't figured it out who the murderer is. Since this is my last Wednesday I'm going in til the New Year, lot of things to do, errands, bills to pay etc. Still windy this morning but the sky is clear and full of stars.
A windy and wet Tuesday but productive. I think I'm going to be ready for Christmas with perhaps a day or two to spare. Put on a pot of Turkey soup - good for leftovers too. Lexi and I didn't manage to dodge rain drops on our morning walk so we both returned home soaked to the skin. Cathy stopped for her weekly coffee and chatter with her Biscuit recipe. I tackled them for supper and was surprised after many years of trying I had biscuits that did not resemble hockey pucks! Success finally! The yard is full of Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Chickadees, a few Goldfinches, Woodpeckers and one Junco. I hope something new will soon appear.  Not a great day for Big B. so I've resorted to photos from a finer day.

Rosehips.

A Gull on a downward sweep.

Lots of Gulls but nothing that looks different.

Snow Bunting. They really blend in with their surroundings.

And one can never pass up another Chickadee.









Enjoy your day!

Day 349 - 15th December 2015 - Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay and Waves

An early morning - windy and rain. It's given me an opportunity to start the latest book I want to read. Was lucky enough to find it on line and download it to my kobo - A Siege of Bitterns.  It's a birders mystery set in the UK. Sounds like a great combo. Coming from parents and grandparents who were all big readers, as a child I could lose myself for hours in a good book. Spending most summers in the country with one set of grandparents might have had something to do with that. There was little to do in the evenings and no tv. Although in those days no one spent much time watching one anyway. It was outside during the day and reading or playing crib with grandmother in the evening.  I think Agatha Christie was the first mystery writer I read at a relatively early age and I fell in love with mysteries.  Have to decorate cookies today, dip some others and get a few tins ready to take with me tomorrow. Seems like a good day for a pot of turkey soup to simmer on the back of the stove. Maybe some more wrapping.
Monday was a wet and miserable day - but good for decorating and wrapping gifts. Forced me to stay inside as much as possible except for brief walks with Lexi between rain drops. Exercise class last night - I'm sure there will be muscles screaming by Wednesday morning.

The Hairy Woodpecker and Blue Jay don't usually share this well. It didn't last the Woodpecker quickly sent the Blue Jay packing.

The White Throated Sparrow.

A few from Daniel's Head. Bet the waves are awesome this morning.

One of the hold wharves.








Enjoy your day!

Day 348 - 14th December 2015 - White-Throated Sparrow, Starling and Morning Dew

 Monday once again and a too early start to the day for me! Time to get some decorations around the house. I'm about 2 weeks late with that and a week early putting up the tree. Guess it will all equal out in the end.  Sounds like a messy couple of days in the weather department - that will be good for inside work. Hopefully I'll get out for a tramp around the hood before anything starts today.
A successful Sunday! Lots of things done and progress has definitely been made. Some cookies decorated, parcel done up and ready to ship, decorations out of the closet, tree up and decorated. Larry got the stuff on the roof - well almost all done - just one short side left to do. And we cooked a turkey for supper..leftovers this week - Rah! I know less than 2 weeks til Christmas and we have turkey. They were on sale - (cheaper than Chicken) and since we go to Mom and Dad's Christmas Dinner we miss out on the leftovers.

 White-Throated Sparrow. I was so lucky to be able to catch this fellow and have him pose for me.

 Seems he had a little itch.

Sparkling dew on the grass.
















Had a couple of Starlings in the yard yesterday morning.

Someone didn't quite finish their apple.






Enjoy your day!