And once again a snow day

Two pals, Christopher my black cat and Bliss my yellow lab, watch out the deck doors from my studio. They both spend a lot of time looking out the doors watching. Christopher is allowed up into the loft and so looks out the church windows there as well.

This is what the boyz are watching - but I think Bliss is hoping to see the Dread Red. The little birds are just a few of the flock of about 50 and often more birds that frequent my feeders all winter. The little birds as I call them consist of goldfinches, nuthatches, juncoes, American tree sparrows, English sparrows, house finches, sometimes purple finches and of course the ubiquitous chickadees.

The little birds gather on the railing and this small bird feeder, made to look like a bakery, as well as feeding from the deck on the seeds that I throw there or that the larger birds - blue jays and woodpeckers as well as mourning doves toss onto the deck as they search for the best ones.

Bliss won't last long before he's pawing or lunging at the door after the squirrel or begging me to take him and Spirit his brother out. Yesterday it was sunny and I got onto the snowshoes (thank you Bill - www.wildramblings.com -  for your recent reminder on how and when to use them) and tramped all around the pasture. But of course that was yesterday and as you can see from the photo above - it's snowing again - and may tomorrow as well. I'm going to have to brave the snow-covered roads. Christmas is way too close!

Hope you don't have too much snow wherever you are (You especially Mindy who hates snow but loves Christmas - mindymilburn.wordpress.com) so you can get out and finish up Christmas tasks or get to work and home again safely and easily. Enjoy the day!

Outside, inside

Outside - it's snowing this morning and it seems like at least a hundred goldfinches and their colleagues are visiting my feeders - this one on the deck, the two on the east and the one on the west sides of my home. There are also several birds at the nyger feeder in the birch tree on the south near the front door - getting their fill of thistle seeds.

Eleia, the calico cat has decided to abandon her vigil in the huge bird feeder on the deck near the one shown in this picture. The wind is blowing and it's a trifle cold out there. She's perched inside on a window sill behind the computer, watching the action from there. Christopher, the black cat, has gone to curl up in a chair by the fire. Birds are too much trouble for him. I've seen them land at the dogs' water dish on the deck, just beneath where his head is hanging over the edge of the chair he's chosen to sleep in. He watches them from a foot away, but never moves. The birds seem to know he's know threat - Eleia? They see her they bolt.

Inside?

These beautiful hibiscus blooms make me feel warm and cozy! Bright and cheerful on a gray chilly day.