Even More Snow!

I put my first measurable snow post up the middle of December, and just remembered to give Nancy, at Soliloquy the link for her First Snowfall Project. I have seen some of the posts, and since I have tomorrow off again due to the weather, I may get a chance to look up some more.

I have actually posted several times about all the snow we're having. It's really making it difficult for our daughter to get all her things over to her new apartment. She's sleeping on air mattresses. She is not comfortable, but she's warm. Her other place was cold because she couldn't afford the gas bill. We need to get the rest of her things over so she can get her name off of the gas.

I have already shown a lot of the views in the snow, but posted the repeats because the piles of snow are getting higher and higher. The first 2 were taken January 3rd, and the rest, this afternoon. Some were taken through windows, and others from an open door. I used my zoom, and did not go outside to take them. It is cold!

Speaking of cold, I recently left a comment on Darla's or someone from the south's blog about how I do not like living where it gets so cold in the winter, yet I think it would be more difficult to live in a place where people garden or farm year around, and experience freezing temps that destroy crops and blooms. My heart goes out to those of you going through nights with unseasonable low temps. I hope your loss is minimal.

We added a few more inches today, enough to bury the top of the chair that was still visible in the above photo.

I can't remember what's in the pots, but in front of the wheelbarrow, which I wish we would have found an inside spot for, is a beauty berry bush I just planted last spring.

Liatris, and 'Fireworks' goldenrod:

The tops of the mums are just poking through the top of the snow.

This is Queen Anne's lace poking through.

The trees across the street, on the left side of this photo, look pretty in snow. The rosemary plants are all alive so far. The parsley is looking pretty good. I didn't notice the clover until I saw it in the photo. I was going to save the African violets for GBBD, but I'll just hope they are more filled out, and I'll take different photos for the 15th. :o)

Here's a larger view of the trees. I garden to the left of the garage across the street.

The scented geraniums are getting a bit leggy. I trimmed them back a few weeks ago. It looks like I need to again. This is the top of the garden window with snow on it.

I have noticed the days getting a bit longer. I keep reminding myself it's January, and next month is February, then comes March, then... I just wonder when the snow will melt so I can get my lettuce planted. I like to put the first crop in in February. Maybe it will be on top of snow this time. Keep your spirits up and find a way to keep warm! If you are experiencing nice weather, I forgive you. LOL

I just remembered to add a photo from my parents' place, where the snow from the parking areas is quite high all up and down the street.

Birds and Squirrels

I have been having fun watching the critters and taking photos of them out of windows. They all take off when I open the door to take photos.

The first 3 were taken 12/29. I am pleased to see sparrows and black-eyed juncos eating seeds from goldenrods and rudbeckias. This is 'Wichita Mountains' goldenrod.

I'm not sure how the birds are getting the seeds from the feeders to fall inside the fence. I suppose there is some on the other side, too, but I am wondering if they know they are safer from cats inside the fence. I see birds on the sidewalk outside the back door every day.

We were running out of bird feed, the other day, so I air popped some plain popcorn and put it on the rain barrel and a couple other places. I'm not sure if any birds ate it, but the squirrels did.

The top of the fence is a favorite perch of birds like this sparrow, and later, you'll see the squirrels like it, too.

The next several photos were taken yesterday, New Years Eve. I've read that these house sparrows came from England a number of years ago, and are not desirable to have around. I just read an article about them where they encourage people to control them because they kill bluebirds and other cavity nesters and take over their birdhouses. We have sparrows build a nest on the air conditioner outside our bedroom window every year. Do any of you have experience with sparrows? They seem to get along OK with other kinds of birds in the winter. I've seen the blue jays, this week, but must not have gotten photos of them.

Larry got the kind of bird food that cardinals are supposed to like, that does not have millet in it, and just a little cracked corn. Sparrows and squirrels aren't supposed to like safflower, but the sparrows here were eating it when the other food was out.

I'm enjoying the black-eyed juncos.

I was excited when I counted 6 doves among the sparrows. I couldn't move fast enough to get them all in a photo, but there are 3 and a half of them in this one.

This one was right outside the back door this morning.

I looked up to see 2 squirrels.

After taking photos, I decided to open the door so they would run off and give the birds another turn.

To see more critters or find out how to link yours, click on the Camera Critters logo in the sidebar.

Imagine That!

I was tickled when I was able to harvest salad greens and kale in December, and ate some almost daily for awhile. I got busy, and haven't had any this past week. Today, I thought I better be eating it before it goes bad. I've had them in my Tupperware veggie keeper. I wonder if they would have kept as well in my vegetable drawer. I'll have to experiment sometime.

As Larry and I were eating lunch, I told him not only did I harvest later than ever before, but eating from the garden on January first is amazing! It is especially cool in that we have have a couple feet of snow plus higher drifts from the two snowstorms that recently came our way.

Ashley is still in the process of packing the rest of her things, and we will help her some more on Sunday.

Again, Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

A few days ago, a blogger, I can't remember who, said something about a blue moon coming. Last night, I noticed a beautiful blue sky around the moon, so wondered if that's what it was. I looked it up, and found a couple different stories of what a blue moon is. It's now thought of as when there is a second full moon in a month. The NASA website had some good information about it. I posted some photos of last night's moon on my SkyWatch post on my other blog.

Since tonight's moon is the blue one, I started to go out to take some photos, but it was too cold to walk to where I could see it, so I took some out of my garden window.

Some have asked me what kind of camera I have. It's a Canon PowerShot SX10IS. I sure love the zoom and night time features on it! It's fine for the outdoor shots I like to take, and even has a video feature on it. It does not take very good photos inside, though. The slightest movement of the subject causes blurring. When I use the flash, it causes a glare. Larry says there is a better flash we can get that is separate from the camera. I have had the camera a little over a year, and need to finish reading the manual and learn how to use some of the other features.

I hope your New Year brings you much joy and garden fun.

Is it Wednesday?