Our Second Snow Day!

The bird feeders were filled again this morning, but it's not just birds eating the sunflower seeds.  Here's one of two does that visited at lunch time no less to eat the spilled seed.

I didn't realize that when I sprinkled the seed on the snow for ground feeding birds that I'd also be feeding the deer.

Here she is outside Dan's study window oblivious to him sitting there.

Somehow she sees me taking her picture from the great room.

She's had enough so she heads off.

I remember a time when it was unusual to see deer.  Even when we'd vacation in West Virginia when the daughters were young it was a special event to happen upon the deer feeding in the fields at dusk.  Now they're out and about at all times and are everywhere.

Post script: 12-21-13 Linking to Saturday's Critters.
Snow in these photos is disappearing fast as our temps are at 50º and climbing.

First Snow of December 2013

Views top and bottom from my study window.

It's a fine snow and quickly covering everything.

Looking out the kitchen window.  The top of the swing will be our gauge of the number inches we get.

Birds are happy I filled the feeders yesterday.

We stayed home from church expecting the snow to hit while we were out if we had gone.  If that happened we would have had difficulty getting back up our driveway.  We made the right decision.  So did our church: they encouraged folks to stay home.

Thanksgiving

Greetings at this Thanksgiving time.  A holiday for eating, talking, laughing, sharing, and contemplating all the blessings bestowed on us, our families, our communities and our country.  Wherever you are to celebrate I hope it's one filled with happiness.

Here are scenes from last Thanksgiving.  This year will be bittersweet without the presence of my mother.  Who would have thought that we would have to reflect and be thankful for the 94+ years she had on this Earth never expecting that she would not be present with us to celebrate in 2013.

Tables set awaiting guests.

My youngest sister Marie makes her special salad dressing.

Enjoying the campfire and appetizers outside.

My oldest sister Bonnie (right) and I carve the bird.

Food is ready served buffet style.  Mom is there on the left.

Taking our places to eat.

This year my oldest brother is hosting.

Bittersweet!

Dawn Chorale

I was awakened this morning before 6 o'clock by the "who who" of the owls in the neighborhood.  What a pleasant sound.  I believe they were barred owls but they didn't quite finish the "who cooks for you?" as they called through the woods.

First one had a solo for awhile then it was joined by another.  As I lay in bed listening I realized they were moving through the woods first both on the south side, likely in the glen, then one on the north side and one on the south.  They did get fainter after a bit as they moved east through the woods.  Hope they found the owl house I had installed for them.  This is nesting time so I got it up just in time.

Once the sun's rays spilled over the horizon, the owls were quiet.  Maybe another morning I'll hear that lovely chorale again.