Baby, Blizzards, and Bluebirds...

Massachusetts has seen more than its fair share of snow these past few weeks,

with yet another 12" or so due on Monday.

Even Baby doesn't know what to make of it.

In other news, the bluebirds are daily visitors...

... with the main draw being both the meal worms...

... and the heated birdbath.

(yes, the heated birdbath really is there, mid-blizzard, with enough of a warm water oasis 

that the birds were able to drink to their hearts' content).

I love these 'in-flight' photos.

It seems like someone is always coming or going.

And I've found the bluebirds to be very curious...

...  and not the least bit fearful when they see me in the window.

As a matter of fact, when I sprinkle the meal worm on the screen feeder

and do my little clucking sound for them,

... they start landing on the feeder before I've even completely shut the window.

 Their second favorite food source is suet. You can see a bluebird perched on the

 shepherd's hook that one of our suet baskets hang from.

The cardinals, not nearly as trusting as the bluebirds, are very wary of me in the window, so capturing this handsome fellow on the feeder with one of the bluebirds was quite a treat. Until last year, I'd never even seen a bluebird, and now we are graced with flocks of them visiting the feeders of the house we've lived in for over 33 years! 

They certainly add to the view outside our dining room window!

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

Till next time, stay safe and warm, everyone!

Donna

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

No explanation necessary...

Just photos taken of the storm that started yesterday afternoon and lasted into the night. Every single snowflake was captured by using the flash on my camera. Truly a beautiful evening, no matter how tired I am of this winter's snow accumulation.

Stay warm, everyone!!

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

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