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
Picture of the Day for January 20, 2014
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
Picture of the Day for January 19, 2014
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
Picture of the Day for January 18, 2014
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
Picture of the Day for January 17, 2014
After listening to the wind howl and watching the snow blow yesterday, I much rather hear a babbling brook and watch water falling on a warm summer afternoon.
Babbling Brook
Picture of the Day for January 16, 2014
The gray winter days are sometimes brightened by some colorful objects on the landscape like red barns. And a colorful quilt pattern on a barn is an added bonus.
Quilt barns have been around for hundreds of years and a movement in early 2000s have seen more new quilt blocks appearing on barns again. Now there are Barn Quilt trails, which originated in Ohio, in most states so maybe I will have to go visit each one (starting in the warmer states during the winter).
Quilt Barn
Picture of the Day for January 15, 2014
The morning sunshine revealed the previous day snowfall and while it might be pretty to look at, it wasn’t so ‘pretty’ when it came to shoveling it.
More Snow (Again)
Picture of the Day for January 14, 2014
The trees probably are as tired of winter as I am, with the heavy snow weighting down their branches most of the winter. They had a couple of days where they could lift their branches up again but it sure didn’t last long and they groaning under the snow again. So the snow monsters have returned again.
Snow Monster
Picture of the Day for January 13, 2014
Barbwire is thorny enough, especially when working with it, but with the frost it seems extra spiky.
Bristly Barbwire
Picture of the Day for January 12, 2014
Due to the vibrant colors, which most male birds have compared to the females, the female often doesn’t get displayed in pictures even though she often does the majority of the work. In the case of the cardinal, the female does the nest building although the male sometimes brings nest material to the female.
The female cardinal has a rare trait of singing as few North American songbirds females do. Her song often a longer and more complex than the male and join their mates in a practice known as antiphonal singing.
Female Cardinal
