I SEEM TO HAVE LOST MY CHRISTMAS SPIRIT SOMEWHERE

I’M GUESSING THIS FELLOW AT A ‘RED BELLIED WOODPECKER’

It’s been snowing continuously since Monday but luckily we didn’t get the heavier snowfall that some areas inland had.  Many times snow streamers sweep in off the lake and the upsurge of wind from the shoreline bluffs carries the blowing snow up and over us before dumping it further east.  I did re-shovel about an inch and a half of snow off my pathways this morning.  Well it’s not so much shoveling as it is pushing and scooping which one can easily do when snow is light and fluffy.

WASN’T BLOWING BAD ENOUGH TO STOP US FROM A JEEP RIDE BUT I COULDN’T SEEM TO DRUM UP ANY OF MY USUAL ENTHUSIASM THIS MORNING

NO FISHERMEN ON BAYFIELD’S PIER

ICE IS BEGINNING TO FORM ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER

FISHING BOATS AGAIN REMAINED IN PORT AND EVEN THE RIVER HAD A FEW WHITE CAPS ON IT FROM THE UNRELENTING HIGH WINDS

SEAGULLS AND DUCKS HANGING AROUND THE STERN OF THIS FISHING BOAT

With the wind howling in the tops of the pine trees I knew it would be blowing the new snow around out in the countryside and in fact area school buses were cancelled.  I loaded up Pheebs anyway and we took a drive into Bayfield.  Didn’t bother with a coffee and muffin because I knew we weren’t going to be out long.  Kind of hard to get enthusiastic about driving around in cold snowy weather so we weren’t long in coming home again and that was pretty much our day.

HEADING BACK HOME

LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY WAS A BIT HASTY IN BOARDING THE POLAR EXPRESS THIS MORNING AND LEFT THEIR LUGGAGE BEHIND

Here is Part 2 of a walk Pheebs and I took on the John Hindmarsh trail in the Maitland Woods on Sunday December 3rd.

I WAS SURPRISED TO COME ACROSS THESE BIRD FEEDERS IN THE WOODS

 

THIS SECTION OF THE MAITLAND WOODS HAS DEFINITELY ENDURED SOME STRONG WINDS AT ONE TIME

 

I SEE THE GNARLY HAND OF AN OLD TREE HERE

 

I’M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING THIS TRAIL NEXT YEAR WHEN ALL THE LEAVES ARE BACK ON THE TREES

IT’S DAMP ENOUGH FOR MOSS IN THE FOREST

NICE TO SEE A SMALL POND

  

 

I’M WONDERING IF A SQUARE HEADED WOODPECKER MADE THESE HOLES

FOREST FERNS

I’m not sure where my Christmas Spirit has gone but looking out the living room window this afternoon at the snowy cold and gray outside I was aware it was missing.   Our temperatures have been hanging out in the mid 20’s and when I look ahead at the forecast it is solid cold gray days ahead.  I think the renewed novelty of winter has already run it’s course with me.

NICE TO SEE A PAIR OF CARDINALS IN THE YARD TODAY AND THIS ONE IS THE MALE

A DARK EYED JUNCO, FEMALE CARDINAL, AND A ?? SPARROW

<<< MALE CARDINAL

GROANER’S CORNER:((  To commemorate her 79th birthday , actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.  One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'.  Here are the lyrics she used:  If you sing it, it's rather hysterical!!!

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillac's and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

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