Hopefully the chipmunk didn’t eat all the acorns he found this fall and stored a lot for this long, cold winter. Chipmunks construct expansive burrows with chambers for the food storage, sleeping quarters and refuse tunnels. During the winter, the chipmunk may enter long periods of decreased physiological activity, but does not truly hibernate and instead of storing fat, they periodically dip into their cache of nuts and seeds throughout the winter.
Chipmunk Eating an Acorn
I’m not sure who is praying for snow and cold but I wished they would stop, especially the cold part with the propane and natural gas shortage. I think there are a lot of people in the area praying for warmer temperatures.
Praying for Warmer Temperatures
With more snow overnight and more on the way, the deer are probably happy to find fields of corn which haven’t been harvested yet. But the farmer probably wished he had got the corn harvested before the deep snow arrived.
Not Harvested
After watching more snow falling and blowing today, I decided I much rather see falling and blowing leaves, even though that would mean winter is around the corner and I sure don’t want a longer winter as this one has been long enough. But a warm, sunny fall day would be great about now as leaves on the road is easier to deal with than snow on the road.
Fallen Leaves Line the Road
With the recent snow and blowing snow, the landscape takes on a new look, as the snow covers familiar landmarks.
Drifting Snow
After watching the snow flying by creating white outs, I rather have a bug fly by and see a field waving purple instead.
Wild Asters
I think I need to fix my fence. It is not stopping the snow or the cold! Course it wouldn’t stop any critters either but the bluebirds like to land on it to watch for bugs in the summer.
Leaky Fence
This winter is for the birds but I don’t think the birds like it any better than I do, not when it is below zero again. Birds, like the White-breasted Nuthatch, have been flocking to the bird feeder to get some high-energy food to help survive the cold temperatures. On cold, wintry days, most birds fluff up their feathers, creating air pockets, which help keep the birds warm. The more air spaces, the better the insulation. Some birds perch on one leg, drawing the other leg to the breast for warmth.
For the Birds
Even though it was above freezing today, it would be rather chilly to walk on the river sand, even if it wasn’t frozen over.
Siskiwit Falls
The ‘Mighty Oak’ is still trying to hang unto autumn even though winter started early this year. The winter winds might have broken the branch off, but the oak leaves give a hint of color on the white forest floor.
Leaves from the Mighty Oak
