Camera Critters

These shots were taken just about 1 year ago. On a very, very snowy Sunday afternoon we all bundled up and drove ( it was way too cold and snowy to walk) 1/4 mile to catch a ride on this bob sled. The 2 Belgian horses and sled belong to a guy that lives not far from us. He brought them up the road to a field across from the local general store. We all piled in the sled and even though we nearly froze we had a wonderful ride.

Don't forget to click on the Camera Critters side bar to see lots more neat critters. Thanks to all responsible for hosting this really fun meme.

Yesterday we had to go to town, and on the way back home we passed by a ground silo loaded with silage. The opening was crowded with wild Turkeys just helping themselves. Of course as soon as I stopped they began to fly away..

These 2 stuck around for another few minutes.

Back at home, more birds in flight.

Hail, Hail the gang's all here ! These Blue Jays are literally eating me out of house and peanut butter ! LOL

This guy isn't too sure he wants to land.

This one is doing a happy dance.

SkyWatch Friday

Looking back through my files, I found these sunset pictures that I took last summer not far from our house. So much better than cold white snow don't you think.
Happy SkyWatch Friday everyone. Thanks to all who host this gorgeous meme. Click on http://skyley.blogspot.com/ to view lots more sky shots.

Yesterday was another busy day on the computer. I have gotten almost everything back to "normal", but didn't get much time to take pictures. It snowed very heavy all day, and around 4PM the wind really began blowing causing plenty of accidents and white-outs. We got 18" from this "storm". A good day to stay inside! My birds were out in full force and cleaned the feeders by late afternoon.
This male Downey was here all day.

Mr. Hairy made an appearance too fighting off the Blue Jays for peanut butter. I had this slab filled with peanut butter and 4 hours later it was empty.

A cute little Tree sparrow.

Of course we can't forget Mr. Cardinal, even if he did have a face full of snow.

Good Morning everyone. I'm pretty late in posting today. I have had some major issues with my computer the past 2 weeks, and I finally got it all squared around yesterday so I didn't have time to put anything on. I ended up doing a system restore. and if you've never done this, you lose everything ( not your internet info ),unless you have a back-up. Well, I did have a back-up EXCEPT I lost the pictures I had taken Monday and Tuesday. Oh well you live and learn.
Anyway I took these this morning. We are having a snow event, and right now it is sleeting on top of 5" of snow we got overnight.. 10 minutes later it is now snowing very heavy. Welcome to snow country. Some of the country is having lots of ice... No thanks! I'll take the snow anytime.
Have a great day all, and stay safe.

Ruby Tuesday

Looking back through my pictures from last summer ( now isn't this better than all those snowy shots?), I found this one from a walk we took in the Jamestown ( New York )Audubon Society grounds. I was surprised to see these red cones on this pine tree. I'm assuming that they are immature.
Thanks to mary/the teach for being the host. Be sure to click on http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ to view more red photos.

Macro Monday

Happy Macro Monday everyone. This is a Violet I have blooming right now in my terrarium. How about a shot of frost on a window.
Thanks so much to Lisa for hosting this meme. Click on http://lisaschaos.com/category/photos/macro-monday-photos/ to see more macros.
Please check out my regular post for today below.

OK, so what's going on here? It's -4º yesterday morning, and I see 2 Sparrows checking out the Blue bird house. Maybe they know something we don't. Could Spring actually be on it's way? ? LOL We took a short ride around Findley Lake in the afternoon, and saw these Mallards and geese swimming in a very small portion of unfrozen water. My header was taken in the same area.

Early in the morning this female Red Bellied woodpecker came close to the house, and I like the pattern of the under side of her tail.

Now she can't decide which seed to take.

In this shot you can see the red on the underside of her belly. She's keeping an eye on all the Blue Jays that were trying to steal her seed.

All the while this Blue Jay waited his turn. Even these guys don't mess with the woodpeckers.

I think this female House finch was sleeping ?

Have a super day everyone. Keep all the terrific photos coming. I love them all!

Good Morning. Another cold night last night with below 0º temperatures. We got 3.5" of new snow too yesterday.
I couldn't post without a shot of a male Cardinal. I have so many this year. On Friday we took a drive to the Erie Peninsula again. It was such a nice day, and we all know they are few and far between in our area. These Gulls were standing on very thin icy water, and hopefully they keep moving lest they freeze in place.

At the Marina the boats are all sleeping some place safe for the winter. The Lake has open water yet so the chance of lake effect snow storms is still present.

Last week we had hoped to see 2 huge ore freighters come into the harbor, but they had gotten stuck in the ice before they reached Erie. A few days later a Coast Guard ice breaker came to their rescue, and now they are safe and sound till the spring shipping season. I took a few shots of these behemoths. You can't imaging the size.

I liked this ice on the stern. This ship must have seen some rough waters on it's way to Erie.

A shot of the full length of one of these ships. I couldn't get a clear view of it for all the trees, but it still gives you an idea of the mammoth size..

This is Misery Bay, and a favorite of the ice fishermen.

Have a wonderful day all, and above all stay safe and take lots of pictures.

It was a beautiful day Friday, and we took a ride to enjoy the sun. I took lots of pictures, but for some reason I can't get them loaded into Picasa. I will try tomorrow again.
Anyway this was taken Thursday afternoon. A Red Tailed hawk came out of nowhere. He is beautiful, and landed in a tree not far away, but the sun was shining on the camera, and I couldn't find him on the screen, when all of a sudden he flew away. These are the only 2 pictures I got of him.

A couple old barns that are neat.

Sorry, that's all I have. I'll be working to get my pictures from Friday on the computer.

Have a wonderful week-end.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I took this Tuesday afternoon, when on a day that couldn't make up it's mind what it wanted to do. The sun tried to shine, but it was snowing, and there were gray clouds everywhere.
Thanks so much to all the hosts for SkyWatch, and click on http://skyley.blogspot.com/ to look at plenty more sky photos.

Here we are back in the winter mode again. sorry.
This Hairy woodpecker is sticking his tongue out tasting the peanut butter. Yum good! We did go to watch trains yesterday, It was a bust! No trains came by while we were there.
I did get some pictures though. These deer were eating some corn by an old corn crib, and didn't like it when I stopped. I actually saw a small flock of turkeys in some trees near the deer, but when I slowed down they all flew away. Rats!

Almost makes you wish you had a horse and sleigh.

These folks almost have their house buried.

A 104 year old tunnel. The trains pass over head. It's in very good condition too.

1905

This old barn really isn't in very good shape.

I've always liked this one although I don't know what it's used for.

This woods reminds me of a Bev. Doolittle painting.

Gary cleaned the driveway out before we left yesterday. He cleans out to all my feeders, and a wide path to the barn too. What a guy!

These Spruce trees, and we have many, provide a good cover at night for the birds, and good hiding places during the day from Mr. Cooper's hawk.