Today’s (Dec 22) clouds, flurries and cold blew in like the Polar Express. The Polar bears would love it. I didn’t mind it too much because I had plenty of layers on.
Gracie still needs to go out. So we did! However, the facial recognition to unlock the phone did not work with this getup. LOL.
Part of the day was spent watching the goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, Blue Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatches and a couple squirrels.
A few flurries piled up (loosely speaking) along the edge of the concrete. This was gone by the afternoon walk.
Even though the low temperature this afternoon was 13 degrees, water still dripped.
The birds still were able to get to the water.
This duck won’t be going anywhere. LOL
The water at our obelisk was frozen solid. My attempt to break the ice was not successful. On the morning walk it was not frozen.
A large snag fell. Maybe when the 35 mph gust came through this morning?
Gracie lead the way! We did all three of walks today.
Seemed like a good day to do some baking and making a pot of chicken noodle soup. Stay warm!
That is too funny!
If I ever saw a nuthatch down here I would faint. But we do have lots of beautiful Lesser Goldfinches and quite a few White Crowned Sparrows. Both wren species and cardinals singing during our sunshine this morning. We are mid teens and blustery!
And Gary saw Ringtail footprints in the dust on our tractor.
Suzanne, that is neat. They are very common here but still take my breath away when I see an adult male. Like big yellow butterflies.
Mary, it is odd you don’t have the sparrows. Last year I barely saw one here. Guess they shifted. I probable have more stuff out there if I could have time to look. We stayed below freezing all day, going 9 to 29. Lost power overnight for 5 hours wasn’t that bad. Before we went to bed we found we had no water so going to sleep was difficult, worrying about that. Gary tried lots of things but the well guy will have to take a look tomorrow. Had some ptsd of Feb ’21 having no water and dealing with washing, brushing teeth, flushing toilets. Not to mention breaking thick ice on the horse trough 3 times today. So late afternoon we took a break and worked our natural trail for the first time since the ’21 freeze brought limbs down on it. Good therapy.
Kathy, What a lovely way to cope. Gracie’s are needed for her too, but I need them just as much as her. Even when I am reluctant to get dress for the occasion, cold, wet or hot. Oh I am so happy to hear that you have sparrows! Maybe they did move, like the ducks in our area have also moved somewhere else. Both ducks and sparrows numbers are way down over the last few years. 🙁 I also lament however that perhaps it is more than that as grasslands birds are declining in such steep numbers along with insects. Maybe that is the connection?
You dont need a guard dog with that get-up on. That would scare the daylights out of anybody.😄
😂
Did your facial recognition say Imperial Stormtrooper or Ewok?
Ewok of course.
That is too funny!
If I ever saw a nuthatch down here I would faint. But we do have lots of beautiful Lesser Goldfinches and quite a few White Crowned Sparrows. Both wren species and cardinals singing during our sunshine this morning. We are mid teens and blustery!
And Gary saw Ringtail footprints in the dust on our tractor.
Kathy, I saw lesser goldfinches in my white mistflower bushes last week. It was a new yard bird sighting for me.
It would be nice if we had the sparrows. There are so few of them. I think it neat too about the ringtail.
Brr here too!!
Suzanne, that is neat. They are very common here but still take my breath away when I see an adult male. Like big yellow butterflies.
Mary, it is odd you don’t have the sparrows. Last year I barely saw one here. Guess they shifted. I probable have more stuff out there if I could have time to look. We stayed below freezing all day, going 9 to 29. Lost power overnight for 5 hours wasn’t that bad. Before we went to bed we found we had no water so going to sleep was difficult, worrying about that. Gary tried lots of things but the well guy will have to take a look tomorrow. Had some ptsd of Feb ’21 having no water and dealing with washing, brushing teeth, flushing toilets. Not to mention breaking thick ice on the horse trough 3 times today. So late afternoon we took a break and worked our natural trail for the first time since the ’21 freeze brought limbs down on it. Good therapy.
Kathy, What a lovely way to cope. Gracie’s are needed for her too, but I need them just as much as her. Even when I am reluctant to get dress for the occasion, cold, wet or hot. Oh I am so happy to hear that you have sparrows! Maybe they did move, like the ducks in our area have also moved somewhere else. Both ducks and sparrows numbers are way down over the last few years. 🙁 I also lament however that perhaps it is more than that as grasslands birds are declining in such steep numbers along with insects. Maybe that is the connection?
Ininteresting article on the method of dispersal of fungi – insects dearth worms animal and bid feet and other ways – had not thought of that