My Winter Friend

As dawn approached, I spotted a familiar wee face in the entrance of the old box that faces my kitchen window.

For the first time this season, an Eastern Screech Owl is using the shelter for daytime roosting and as a larder.

Prey birds are not nearly as happy as I am to see the little owl in their midst. They are swift to spread the unwelcome news to their fellows.

A Cooper's hawk checks the yard on a regular basis so the little owl is wise to stay hidden during daylight hours. 

Within their hives, my bees cluster and shiver their flight muscles for warmth. Their honey will nourish them throughout the winter as well as provide a delicious sweetener for my toast, salad dressings and drinks. In the event of a power outage, bees wax candles provide clear and fragrant light. But, perhaps above all else, I just love to see them humming from flower to flower, benefiting all.

The lawnmower is on winter vacation while the snow blower has reported for duty. Each season has it's own beauty. Now that I'm retired, I especially love to look out the window at gently falling snow. Snow that becomes an insulating blanket to those who sleep beneath.

Bitless And Blinkerless

I do appreciate when bloggers share tips on items they like. And so, here is one thing that I find highly enjoyable. Namely, YouTube videos by British driving horse trainer, Barry Hook. He owns Horse Drawn Promotions in Hampshire, U.K. Most of his videos are driver views and you can certainly imagine yourself perched up in the driver's seat and enjoying England's countryside as his trainees clip-clop along.

His latest video is of him training a pair of Shetland pony mares. Because the near (left side) mare has teeth problems, the team is being driven without bits. As Barry says, one must have the confidence of your horse for it to obey your voice tones. Normally, he uses soft rubber bits of his own design rather than metal ones.

Barry trains all types of horses and in assorted hitch configurations.  His motto is, "the horses must be safe, confident and happy in their work". (Ideal for humans as well.)

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Last winter was bitterly cold with no period of thaw until spring. One of my hives perished. So this year I'm adding more insulation. By mid-October, the bees in my most populated hive applied self-help to reduce their drafty top entrance. They had heartily gopped on propolis to reduce the opening.

 The honey bees tried to reduce their drafty top entrance with propolis.

To control drafts but still provide ventilation, I added a wee vestibule.

This reducer will also hold a wrapping clear of the bottom entrance.

In previous years I insulated the vent box under the roof with wood shavings. This year, as well as the shavings, I've also adding fiberglass insulation. In fact, I'm even wrapping the entire hive bodies with pink fiberglass insulation.

In each vent box, I've placed a wood shavings-stuffed pillow ...

... and placed pink fiberglass insulation over the pillow.

Perhaps overkill, I'm wrapping each hive with fiberglass insulation.

 
Before I could finish the job and wrap a final layer of tarp over the hives, the weather here turned inclement. I made a note on next year's calendar to complete this chore no later than mid-October! On a more positive note, I've already changed my car tires to winter ones. Oh, and the bird bath has it's winter de-icer element installed.

A jay enjoying a drink of tepid water on a frosty morning.