Skywatch Friday

This sky was visible last night just before dusk off to the West.
The sun had been trying to shine all day with no luck.
It's Skywatch Friday and thanks to all the gang who keeps this going every week.
To join in click HERE to see lots more sky shots.
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR.

Birds, Birds, and more Birds

I listed in my winter bird list Pine Siskin, and this is the only one that has showed up. I hope it's a scout and the rest will be along any day now... This Starling spent a long time on the suet and did some cool acrobatics.

Try this without getting dizzy!

Now he is flapping his wings just to hold on.

There are four pair of Cardinals here at the front feeders. Out back I had two more.

Even the Blue Jays like to practice their upside down eating.

The Cooper's hawk made his first appearance of the winter season, and came away empty handed, or shall I say empty clawed. I'm sure he'll be back, and with all the Sparrows and House Finches I have this year, he won't go away hungry!

I have seed on the deck railing close by the bird bath, and the Juncos are always there..

One of the Cardinals that seems to like the ground seeds.

We want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Stay safe tonight if you party. We cherish our blogging friends and want you back! !

Watery Wednesday

Last week we had an entire day that it rained, and then the next day the temps dipped way below freezing and all the standing water froze. These are just some of the shots I took of the ice. Some of the patterns are pretty cool.
Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting this site. Click HERE to see lots more watery shots.

Before you leave, check out my post for Remember Whensday--- Below..

Remember Whensday

When I graduated from high school in 1960 I got my first job working as a nurses aide at the Zem Zem Hospital for Crippled Children in Erie, Pa. This picture was taken in June 1960 on my first day. I worked there for 2 years until I was accepted into the Radiology program at one of the local hospitals in Erie.. It certainly was a memorable time in my life and the hospital and it's Dr.s saved many children from crippling conditions. The hospital now is much larger, and is called Shriner's Hospital.
Thanks to Sandy for hosting this great meme. Click on over to her site HERE to see more oldies.

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Monday morning we got dumped on with 8" of snow. It really is pretty, but with the days getting longer now, even only 1 minute at a time I'm thinking Spring! How about you?
Total snowfall so far this season is 57".
This is our upper trail or what we call the Llama trail. We put the game camera out here last night to try and capture pictures of the Beavers at work, but must be they took the night off. There was no sign of any activity. I missed 2 great opportunities here in this bit of open water. Yesterday I saw 2 pair of Mallards, and the day before a Great Blue Heron in the exact same spot, and of course where was my camera? At home on my computer desk...

I also saw a beautiful Pileated woodpecker on our drive Sunday afternoon. He was working on a large opening in this tree along side of the road. I stopped and took only one picture before he flew away. It didn't turn out very good.

Also early Sunday morning I heard a Robin out in the front yard, but never could find it for a picture. I'm not having very good luck lately and I never see Robins around here after October...Maybe he had some last minute family business to tend to before he headed South. LOL Azrael likes to go for a walk even if the snow is up to her belly.

The trail turns here around the Spruce tree.

Lots of light snow fluffies.

The yard geese have on warm coats.

Snow covered Sumac.

We have more snow on the way. Oh well, after all it is winter, so we'll just carry on.

Have a wonderful day.

Don't forget to check out my Ruby Tuesday post for today--- Below---

Ruby Tuesday

For Ruby Tuesday this week I have decided to show a pair of Christmas pierced earrings I got years ago. They are about 1" long and I supposed you could wear these all winter too.
Thanks to Mary/the teach for keeping this meme going. Click on her site HERE and you can see lots more RED.

Macro Monday

In the past week we have had some fairly heavy rains, and then the last 2 nights it has frozen all the standing water. This ice is on one of our nature trails. I discovered when I looked closer you can actually see the crystals.
Happy Macro Monday to everyone, and thanks to Lisa for hosting this meme. Click on over to her site HERE and you'll see more close-ups.

Day after Christmas

The day after Christmas and the weather wasn't as expected. It began as freezing rain, and then sleet, snow and finally a bright beautiful blue sky appeared. The sun shone down on us all afternoon. Actually we were supposed to get more snow Saturday, but it has apparently been postponed till late Sunday. Down the road from us, there was a large flock of Canada geese resting in this pasture not far from the creek. As long as the creek doesn't freeze completely they will stay all winter near by.

Not to be left out Frosty enjoyed her first Christmas climbing in and out of bags.

The birds were here in large numbers today too. Most of these are Sparrows and Finches and a few Mourning doves mixed in. I put seed in this sun dial too. It makes a good feeder.

A day of rest Sunday. We had two days of Christmas. One Friday with our kids and granddaughters, and then one on Saturday with the kids again and my sister. How wonderful to have our family with us.

Lots of food left over too so I don't have to cook. YEA !

I'll try to get around to the blogs today...Sorry if I have missed you lately..

Weekend Reflections

It's the weekend again and time for reflections. This shot taken of the bay window in the front of our home with the Christmas tree reflecting in the glass..
Thanks to James for hosting this meme and if you will click on his site HERE you can see lots more reflections.

Skywatch Friday

Merry Christmas to everyone and have a wonderful and safe day.
This sun dog was spotted Thursday afternoon around 3:30pm in the Western sky. It had been a beautiful day and was just beginning to cloud up. There is freezing rain in the forecast for Christmas Day.
Drive careful and stay warm...
Thanks to all responsible for hosting this meme. Just click on over HERE to see lots more sky shots.

More Catch-up

We woke up Wednesday morning to a 5º temperature. Actually that was better than the -3º that we had during the night. Ice crystals on everything. This is a branch from one of the Apple trees.

I sprinkled some seeds on the deck railing to get the birds used to coming to the heated water.
The Blue jays aren't the least bit frightened.

Earlier this week we drove by Chautauqua lake and saw this lone ice fisherman. He was out there all by himself, and I can't believe he was brave enough to walk out on that ice. We haven't had that many days of really cold temps yet, and I don't think the ice is very thick yet...

On Monday morning this bird showed up beneath my feeder. I asked Tom Arbour of The Ohio Nature Blog and he says this bird is a Dark eyed Junco that is exhibiting partial leucism which is a genetic condition in which some of the birds pigment cells aren't working properly. I believe I saw one just like it last winter too, but it had more dark color.

No picnics today! LOL

It was a beautiful but cold day. Our forecast is for another day like this tomorrow, but warmer, than rain coming in for Christmas day, and later changing to freezing rain and snow. Sounds like lots of fun doesn't it.
When I was growing up I remember a few Christmas eves that it was 60º outside, but my Dad had a fire in the fireplace anyway and some of the windows open.

Have a very Merry Christmas all..

Remember Whensday

I'm not sure how clear this picture will be, but after all it was taken in 1943! I was 11 mos. old and my first Christmas. My Mom is at the right, and Dad is laying on the floor on the left. In the bottom right of the picture is a little wooden red wagon that my Dad made for me. He wasn't a carpenter or did very much woodworking, but it was a wonderful gift, and I still have it today. I miss them both especially at Christmas time.
Thanks to Sally for hosting this memorable meme. Click on her BLOG to see more oldies.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE, AND THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS!

Ruby Tuesday

Oh my here it is Ruby Tuesday again. These cute little salt and pepper shakers were a gift at a Christmas party I attended way back in 1964! I was working for a group of Orthopedic Dr.s and this party was up on the 8th floor of a high rise office building in a circular room that had windows on all sides. It was so beautiful with the snow falling on the lighted streets below.
Happy RT to everyone and thanks so much to Mary/the teach for hosting this fun site.
Click on over to her site Mary! to see lots more RED.

Macro Monday

I have a small Christmas tree in my greenhouse, and have some tiny ornaments on it. This little guy is only 1" high.
Happy Macro Monday, and thanks to Lisa for hosting this fun site.
Click on over to her site http://lisaschaos.com to see lots more close ups.

Snowy Saturday

Friday was Gary's birthday and we went out for lunch and to finish up our Christmas shopping. We ate at a quaint little restaurant in Amish country. I liked this arrangement on the outside of the building. It looks like some sort of climbing shrub. Around the back of the restaurant you will find the Amish parking lot.

Nearing home we rode over by the local ski resort and they are now making snow 24/7.

My birds were so hungry in the afternoon. A large flock of Brown headed cowbirds hogged the main feeder, and this Cardinal decided to move over to a feeder where there weren"t any birds..

I love looking at the woods with snow covering everything, and this area is about 1 mile from home right along the creek.

Looking the other direction, you can see the creek is bank full. There had been ice on parts of it earlier in the week, but now it's mostly open again.

I don't have very many Goldfinches left, and this one still has a bit of his summer garb.

We're getting some of the snow that is crippling the Eastern USA but only 3" has fallen in the past 24 hours. We're actually on the very edge, but it has snowed most of the day, and the flakes are so small it gives the appearance of heavy fog.
I hope everyone out there is safe and warm.