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.
