An Official Snow Day

Today is the first official snow day - I have off of school because of it.

The forecast was for snow starting after midnight so when I woke once last night I peered out to see if it had started yet. Nope. I awoke again at 4 am and still no snow. I resigned myself to the fact that the forecast was in error and went back to sleep until the alarm at 6 am. I lay there then and listened to the announcer give the forecast. He said it was snowing! Good I thought but will they close schools if it has just started?

I hiked down to my study and turned on the computer. Sure enough - School's Out message came through that my school system was closed for the day. How nice! A snow day! Even if it means adding another day to the end of school. A snow day is a gift day!

When Dan left for work taking my car, I rode with him to the top of the lane to fetch the newspaper and then walk back. It was a very pleasant walk, made even better by taking the path through our woods instead of hiking up the steepest part of the driveway. The snow made a lovely sound falling among the trees. I fell only once when I stepped across the frozen creek onto the part that is always wet. It was a sheet of ice hidden under the snow and I went down.

When I got to the yard I refilled the suet feeder and then sat on the swing enjoying the birds that returned once they got their courage back. The cardinals never did summon enough courage to join the titmice, chickadees, sparrows, juncos, and assorted woodpeckers.

Once back in the house I watched the cardinals return. At one time there were 6 males vying for spots at the feeder or waiting for an opening. I've sprinkled sunflower seed next to the deck, protected by the eaves but few birds have found that source yet. They will as the snow gets deeper.

Snow!

Okay, so most people reading this have had their share and more of snow already this winter. Well, we have not here in Maryland, so I'm excited to report that it's snowing today. Don't know if it will last, but the sky has the right color for snow.

I walked in it earlier today and then the sun broke through and it was done. But it started up again and has laid down almost an inch.

The birds are grateful that I filled the feeders and replenished the suet.

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Creatures of habit

We moved a bird feeder today. Actually with the last 30 minutes. The feeder hung over the lawn and the hulls from the sunflowers were building up. I found out they contain a toxin that will kill the grass so it needed to be moved. The feeder is over mulch now, about 15 feet east of where it was near the swing. I wondered how long before the birds would find it again.

I watched from the window. The sparrows returned first to scour the area we had raked of hulls for all the little chips that had fallen. Every once in awhile one of the sparrows would do a little launch as though it was flying up to the feeder which no longer was there. At first I thought it was just coincidence that they were doing it then I saw a female cardinal fly from the holly tree to where the feeder had been. She stopped her flight and reversed course. Twice this happened. Then the male came by and did that once. The second time he flew on to a branch nearby. From there he spied the new location of the feeder and landed there to eat.

It's almost dark now and the birds have stopped feeding. Tomorrow the chickadees and titmice will have a rude shock to find the feeder moved.

Sunrise Awe

What is it about the sunrise or sunset that brings to mind the wonderful creation we have been given by God?

Here are three pictures taken by my son-in-law of the sunrise on December 26th at my home.

Enjoy!





Thank you Matt for sharing these and Thanks be to God for reminding us of the beauty surrounding us.

Squirrels

In December a friend mentioned that the oak trees this year have no acorns. I came home and looked under our oak tree out back and sure enough - no acorns.

We have had a lot of squirrels coming to our bird feeders and though they can't get to the feeders they have been eating what falls on the ground. I have been putting out cups of sunflower seeds on the stumps for them since learning about the lack of acorns.

Dan suggested we get a squirrel feeder so I ordered one from Duncraft. We put it up yesterday and today the squirrels have found it.



The feeder is loaded with corn cobs and eventually once they eat all of the ones on the top they will be swinging to get the one on the bottom.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2009!

May you be blessed with good health and happiness and
success in meeting your New Year's
resolutions all through the year.