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!
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Not the sun, but a very bright full moon on Dec. 14th.
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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.
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The loner and possible bachelor raven.
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Eureka!! A fresh mouse as well as hot dog pieces.
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One of several jays who makes short work of the groceries.
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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.
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Amazed that their delicate ears never freeze in our bitter winters.
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A popular drinking spot.
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Red and white go so well together.
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Napping doves on a misty morning.
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There are at least a dozen goldfinches here this winter.
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A male junco catching some rays.
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The fiery-tempered little Reddy munching a sumac bob.
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An American Tree Sparrow saying, "Hi".
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View from my living room's south window.
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Not wildlife, but a neighbour's barn cat visiting at dusk.
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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.
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One of the many blocks on our heritage quilt.
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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.
