Moonstruck

I'm not a great fan of practical jokes. But I really did get a chuckle when on December 14th, mother nature played a trick on me.

I have never been a good sleeper. Usually awake several times during the night, and check my iPad clock. If it's after 4:00 AM and I'm wide awake, I deem it close enough to morning and make a bee line for the coffee machine.

So on the aforementioned date, I was very surprised to wake up and find it was already light outside. I thought for sure I'd slept in as I'm usually awake well before dawn. Put on my housecoat and headed for the kitchen. Hey!!! Wait a minute!!! The sky's lighting was coming from the North/West instead of the South/East! Turned out to be a very bright super moon reflecting on our snow cover. One could easily read a newspaper by it. The kitchen clock said it was only 2:15 AM. I went back to bed. Good one, Mother Nature! 

Not the sun, but a very bright full moon on Dec. 14th.

I'm still feeding the ravens. I think there are three of them. One loner and the pair I call Click and Clack. But I've quit putting out food unless they first fly in and call from a nearby tree. Otherwise, there are half a dozen bluejays here that will abscond with all the grub first. The jays already take more than their fair share of sunflower seeds in my feeders.

The loner and possible bachelor raven.

Eureka!! A fresh mouse as well as hot dog pieces.

One of several jays who makes short work of the groceries.

I get a lot of pleasure in watching the wildlife during winter months. Beautiful birds and fluffy rabbits and a red squirrel aerialist who makes human acrobats look clumsy by comparison. Here are some snaps I took this month.

Amazed that their delicate ears never freeze in our bitter winters.

A popular drinking spot.

Red and white go so well together.

Napping doves on a misty morning.

There are at least a dozen goldfinches here this winter.

A male junco catching some rays.

The fiery-tempered little Reddy munching a sumac bob.

An American Tree Sparrow saying, "Hi".

View from my living room's south window.

Not wildlife, but a neighbour's barn cat visiting at dusk.

In the floral section of my local grocery store, this very healthy looking goldfish plant took my fancy. The east kitchen window really needed a hanging plant.

Also in the domestic department, I'm still adding repair patches to the heritage quilt my sister made. Here is a block with a weather theme. I added a compass surrounded by wind-swept leaves and dandelion seed fluffs.

One of the many blocks on our heritage quilt.

Here in the Northern hemisphere our daylight is now slowly increasing. And as old man 2024 departs, we'll raise a toast to usher in baby 2025. Happy New Year dear gentlefolk!!! Cheers to another year of adventures and friendships.