Room with a view...

...if you're looking for a view of snow that is!

We were supposed to get about another 6" of snow today.

Wrong!

I think we got more like a foot on top of what we already have (which is a lot!).

A sweet mourning dove on the screen feeder outside the window. 

I continuously brushed snow off  the feeder all day. One time alone it had about 6" on it.

The little side window of the bay window looks out on the garden gate and arbor, always a favorite place for the birds to hang out as it's in close proximity to the screen feeder. I can't wait to see how the honeysuckle I planted beside the arbor does. I know the clematis will come back strong, as it always does, but hopefully I'll be able to watch hummers at the new vine come May or June!

Mr. Cardinal braved the snow to feed several times today...

... as did Mrs. Cardinal, whose body is twisted here. She did, indeed, have tail feathers!

Almost every time I looked out... 

...there was someone waiting to hop on over to the feeder.

I think these little darlings will be even more happy than I will be to see spring.

What a brutal winter it has been for those who live out in the elements.

Lucky for Baby, she is an indoor kitty.

On cold days like this, she loves to lay in front of the living room bay window on top of the apothecary chest. The heating vents are on the floor right by chest so she gets a regular stream of toasty warm air on her furry little feet.

Today's storm lasted from morning to this evening...

...  and we're due to get a couple of more inches of snow tomorrow.

This winter is a throwback to the kind of snowstorms we had when I was a kid growing up in New England. I left for a few years in the late 70's, but when I returned to New England in the very early 80's we had tons of snow every winter. (I missed out on the Blizzard of '78, the snowstorm to end all snowstorms!)

Then in the mid 80's and for many years afterwards, we had pretty wimpy winters by New England standards... more fog and rain than snow it seemed. So this year has been more like the winters I remember from years gone by.  And while I love the nostalgia of these storms and the memories they bring back, I am soooooo ready for spring!

Stay safe and warm wherever you are!

Donna

A Winter Wonderland...

 Since I posted last, we've had quite a few snowstorms here in New England.

In addition to the snow, we've had bitterly cold temperatures like much of the U.S.

Here are some snow snippets as seen through the windows of our little house.

In about four months time there will be flowers hanging from the tree house...

... and flowers planted in the shed's window boxes.

The clematis that covers the arbor will be in full bloom...

... as will the clematis that climbs the lamppost by the front path

(not even visible due to the accumulation of snow from the last storm).

Come May, the hoppa crab trees will be covered with heavenly pink blossoms...

... and annuals will be planted in the whiskey barrel next to the maple tree.

I got hit with the flu after the holidays. It came on so suddenly and it took over a week before I started to feel like myself again. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

The nighttime temps have been single digits lately. It's 8 degrees outside right now.

I'm counting the days 'til we hit double digit temperatures for a full 24 hours!

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday this week.

Stay warm everyone!

Donna

Baby, it's cold outside!

This is the view outside my window mere minutes ago.

According to the noontime news, we're in for yet another snowstorm.

"Say, what????"

"Sorry, Sammy!" I guess he hadn't heard that news until I just announced it.

Lucky for him, the feeder is filled with an assortment of bird seed.

Chow down now, Sammy. It's going to be COLD tonight.

Of course after eating, it's always good to wash food down with a nice drink.

Unfortunately our heated birdbath got unplugged by accident yesterday. We plugged it back in this afternoon and topped it off with warm water until the frozen part thaws, so thankfully Sammy was able to drink to his heart's content.

It looks like someone else dropped in for a drink...

He's coming closer, Sammy! I think you'd better finish up and give Mr. Blue Jay his turn!

And speaking of Blue Jays, they are most definitely enjoying the feeder as well.

As are the Juncos (you see one in the background),
who love all the seed that gets tossed to the ground.

Looks like a little squabble might be brewing over who's hogging the seed.

(Not that I claim to be an expert on blue jay body language. Just saying).

Here's a little "simulated snow" as this iswhat it will look like in about an hour.

I took this photo of Mrs. Cardinal several days ago, just before our weekend storm arrived. 

(As you can see, we didn't get all of our leaves raked up before the snows came.)

I have to say, the birds and Sammy squirrels really enjoy the heated bird bath on these COLD winter days. My old heated bird bath stopped working toward the end of last winter, so I made sure to buy a new one before the freezing temperatures arrived this winter.

And here's the view inside right now
(as reflected in the antique wavy-glass mirror), 

where we're very blessed to be while the snows fall outside our front door.

Stay safe and warm wherever you are!

This week I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday

Donna

I'm seeing red....

The cardinals have been visiting often since our last snowstorm. 

There's no missing them, especially against the minimalism of winter's landscapes.

I spotted this guy in an instant from inside the house, so I ran to get my camera. 

Thankfully he was still there when I got back.

These photos were taken the day our major snowstorm arrived.

(altered with picMonkey)

A while later Mr. Cardinal ventured closer, perching on top of the plant hanger attached to the deck. From there, it was a hop, skip, and a jump to the sunflower seed in the screen feeder!

I think of my mom whenever I see cardinals as they were her favorite birds. 

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of red. It seemed fitting to share it today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm linking up to Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home this week.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Donna

From the 60's to this in two days flat!

 Where did the beautiful, warm, 60 degree temperatures of Monday go????

 

Reality smacked us - hard - as we woke to typical January weather this morning.

(typical for New England, anyhow!)

 

Everywhere Baby and I looked was white, white, and more white.

Whereas my snowman flag looked ridiculous on Monday when temps soared into the low 60's...

...he looked right at home today in the midst of the snowy white landscape.

(Don't you love this whimsical little guy? My talented  friend, Jeri of Fiddlestix, is the artist!)

 

I see the plow is working up at the corner. I'm sure he'll be heading this way before too long.

And within minutes he had.

The view out back was much the same.

As much as I'm not a fan of winter, even I can appreciate the beauty of freshly fallen snow.

The backyard looks like a crystal fairyland with the heavy snow clinging to every branch.

Our new gate and fence are experiencing their first winter.

How I love my little heart gate, no matter what the season.

Snow clung to the diamond pattern of the deck chairs.

And look who heard me taking pictures and ventured over to see if I had my peanut basket

(which I did, of course, much to Sammy's delight!)

 

This is what Mr. J looks like whenever he comes in from the snow. He may be 12, but he's a kid at heart and loves to burrow his head and roll in it.

Stay warm, everyone!!!!

Donna