Most Comfortable

Jasper's found the best way to manage these icy cold winter days:



1) Find a nice warm place in the sun ... and

2) Cuddle up in a nice warm bed.

Jasper is heading into her 16th year in 2014.  She's the sweetest companion cat ever!  Her bed is right next to my computer desk in my study and she can be found there almost every time I'm in my room, that is, unless she's in a sun spot on our bed as she is in the first photo.

Snow Update

It's still snowing ... and snowing ... and snowing ... with no end in sight.  I walked down our long drive and back to check out the conditions.

A view of our house in the snow

 

You can barely see the stream

 

The road from the base of our driveway

 

The birds are still gobbling away

 

I think I ate too much!!!

And the flakes continue to fall...

 

Braving the Cold

 

A snowy day brings a flurry of activity to the bird feeder.  The male cardinal dropped in and joined the juncos for a midday meal.



After getting her fill, the junco below puffed up her feathers to insulate herself from the harsh winds.

 

 

The snow continues falling.  There is already about 6 inches on the ground and we may see about a foot before the storm abates.

 

 

It's a good day to cuddle up close to a buddy!



Chickadee

This is my favorite photograph of the day ... of one of my very favorite birds.  I am enjoying the process of "getting to know" my new camera.  I'm thrilled to be able to get such shots now.  I was quite far away from this little guy who was waiting his turn at the bird feeder.

So cute ...

    But...

 

So naughty!!!

 

Not 10 minutes after I took these photographs today, the dove patrol arrived and chased off the birdseed bandits :)

Winter Walk

Today I didn't get too far and wide, but even a brief walk on a semi-sunny winter's day yielded refreshing natural beauty.  The snow and ice from previous storms all disappeared making it easier to traverse and enjoy the outdoors. The melt led to a cascade of activity in our little mountain stream.  It's rushing and pooling and spilling its banks, its gurgling waters sparkling in the sunlight.

 

While most of the trees are bare, we have an abundance of graceful mountain laurel bushes, more like small trees, that pepper the woods with their bright evergreen leaves.  Along with the lichen that covers many of the large oak trees and rocks, there's actually quite a bit of color enhancing the otherwise dull palette of winter grays.

 

 



Even the dried berries of the crepe myrtle trees growing in front of our home offer an interesting contrast to the pale winter hues.

 

The ever steady flow of birds to our feeders are a continual source of amusement for all of us, including our cat Jasper who loves to sit at the window and watch their coming and goings. 

 



Cold Days, Warm Nights

 

Our days may be cold, but our nights have been warm thanks to Kevin's efforts to keep a fire burning in our stone fireplace.  I love the glow of the flames that twirl and lap over the logs and the hissing and popping of the wood as it dries.  The comforts of a cozy fireside are such a soothing antidote to the chilly winter days.

A New Year

Happy 2014!!!  It's a chilly one here.  Temps were 3 degrees when we awakened today.  The birds have been arriving nonstop at our winter feeders.  Titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, and juncos are our most frequent visitors along with a pair of cardinals and a pair of mourning doves.  The doves are especially fun to watch.  They can be cuddly and sweet or very pushy with the other birds who feed at the base of the feeders.  They are a great squirrel patrol, too, often chasing off the bushy tailed feeder raiders.  Below are a couple of our doves in quieter moments.

 

Even though it's challengingly cold outdoors, it's nice and warm in our log home. Our indoor plants brighten even the grayest of days providing color to last us until Spring arrives.