The last word for now on snow

Not a pet, a bird or an animal - but this is what greeted me this morning when I let the dogs out first thing. My friendly snow plowing neighbour had already been by, but it will take me at least 30 minutes to clean off the car if I want to go to town, and as I look out the deck door - which is my floor to ceiling look at the world from my computer chair - it's still snowing.

Two mourning doves gather seeds on the deck... this is a new spot for them to visit this winter, they usually hang out on the east side of the house, in the trees or on the ground waiting for a chance to eat. They are the most polite and gentle birds I know of - and always not the brightest, being a favourite target for hawks and other predators.

They are relatively safe close to the house. But yesterday I saw a small hawk chasing a smaller bird. I felt sorry for the hawk because it obviously wasn't going to catch the bird. The mice and moles - it's usual prey - are deep under three feet of snow now, and likely tunneling around there for the rest of the winter. It's a big change to how the winter has started here in Ontario - more snow in such a short period of time in this area. Skiers and snowmobilers will be very happy.