It was a bit warmer this weekend--the icicles dripped at high noon--but the wind was brisk and the air raw. It felt cold. I contented myself with shooting birds through the kitchen window.
Female Northern Cardinal and Dark-eyed Junco
Cardinal
O has a new, less shabby platform feeder, but we've yet to replace the flimsy string with durable, squirrel-proof chain.
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Junco and Carolina Chicakadee
It was cold, awright, but then I remembered what a friend told me years ago: You only have so many weekends in your life. So I put on boots, insulated coveralls, extra sweatshirt, gloves, scarf, hat, and ventured outside.
The Poison Ivy patch along the North End doesn't get much respect, especially when the leaves have fallen, but it keeps the riff-raff out so I'm okay with it.
In Winter, it supplies birds with berries; not a first food choice, but evidently edible when nothing else is available.
I wondered, a few weeks back, if Beavers have a taste for Poison Ivy. They came back to munch on the Hackberry tree, and avoided the thick ivy stem.
I walked up the road past the great old barn, just north of the house. Wind had blown the snow off the field and it felt desolate.
I came home to see the sun set through the icicles.Sleet is falling Monday night. We might be in for quite a storm.
10 comments:
Good advice about not just our weekends but making every day count and appreciate what nature presents us.
nellie
Great capture of the glow of the setting sun on the icicles, Jain. We have a poison ivy patch too, once caught the grandsons just in time as they were starting to place logs for a hide-a-way. Have since discovered the three of them aren't allergic to it, just like me! A granddaughter seems to only have to look at it though! :)
Hi Jain ...your bird photos are great...looks like you pretty much the same gsng as I do!!
I like the barn and farm photo, and the sunset one!!
Are you getting the storm we are getting here tomorrow??
Hi Nellie, you're so right. I struggle with appreciating moments and not getting tangled up in daily problems. I'd like to think I'm getting better but it's a lifelong process.
Hi Wanda, I tried like the dickens to focus on the icicles but the camera wouldn't cooperate. I like the colors, though.
I've had plenty of opportunities to get poison ivy but never have. Opossum just has to look at it, to catch it, too. I've heard you can develop a sensitivity at any time, so I don't roll naked in it. :o)
Grammie, who knows what's going to happen! The forecasters predicted 9" of snow and it sleeted all night, to the tune of an inch. More ice is predicted today and tomorrow. Opossum just ventured out to get us a back-up heater so we don't have to evacuate. It'll be interesting! Stay warm, stay safe!
Yours are exactly the kind of images that make my wife want to retreat far,far below the Mason-Dixon line, but they have an intrinsic appeal to me. I don't like deep, deep snow, but otherwise I do like winter.
A flock of American Robins attacked a crabapple tree here over the weekend, stripping it completely bare of its dessicated, pea-sized fruits within a few hours. They must be desperate; I wonder if they'll finally move further south now.
I never got poison ivy rash when I was young, but I get it now, especially in the summer when I'm sweaty. So, I've developed a reaction to the plant over time. Folks that help clear invasive vines here love to cut the poison ivy stems; they're so big and hairy they fairly beg for lopper jaws, but I try to dissuade them because they do provide wildlife food, and they keep people on the trails!
Hey there! Looks mighty wintry in those pics. I'm certainly ready for this storm to be done with us. Hope you guys fare well and stay warm!
Scott, a few inches of snow doesn't do much for me, but if it's deep enough to keep me home, I'm all for it.
There aren't many persisting berries here but crabapple trees at my office are still getting visitors (my windshield is proof!).
Nice to know another ivy defender! There are few of us.
Jennifer & Steve, as storms go, I'd rate this one pretty crappy. There's not even any sunlight to light up the ice! We now have back-up heat and will not freeze to death. You stay warm and safe, too!
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