Welcome to the New Year!

“A new year is unfolding – like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.” ~ Anonymous

Dawn brought us a brand new year this morning.
The temperature outside was a frigid 7ºF (-13C), and the hungry birds arrived for breakfast shortly after 7 AM, as the darkness gradually gave way to light.

Gold finches, tree sparrows......

.....house sparrows and more, crowd onto the tray feeder to fill their tummies. Chickadees and dark-eyed juncos are usually the first to arrive.

The female hairy woodpecker came early today too.

But the smaller downy woodpecker (left) was here before her.
There's a tufted titmouse on the line above the hairy woody.

I went out in my old barn coat, and several layers of clothes, to fill the feeders, and the chickadees came to meet me, as usual. They come very close and don't seem to be the least afraid. Friendly little creatures they are, flitting back and forth continually, which makes them very difficult to count, but we managed to count about 18 this morning. My dear husband was handy with the camera to catch this chickadee grabbing a seed from the dish as I held it out.

Here's a closer look.

They perch on the tray feeder within inches of me and seem to be greeting me with great enthusiasm. It's a happy way to start the day!

A little tufted titmouse came with the chickadees today and perched on a feeder inches away from my hand. They're related to the chickadees. I love their cute round shape and tiny topnotch.

The downy woodys are friendly too, and will come quite close.

A few days ago this tiny chickadee flew into the sliding glass door and was dazed, but otherwise OK. It sat for about 10 minutes to gather it's wits on the electric cord attached to the Christmas wreath hanging on the door .

And who do you think was right there, on the other side of the door, noses to the glass for the entire time? Oh yes, Jasmine and Molly......no doubt thinking, "There's breakfast, right outside our door!"
But not within reach, thank heavens.

This blue jay's feathers were being blown about by the strong, icy winds we had yesterday.

They love to fill up on the corn we put on the tray for them.

Warmer temperatures this past weekend melted most of our snow, but Tuesday covered the ground with white again, and yesterday brought us another 6 inches.

There are no blooms to be seen at the end of the year in the rose/clematis garden.

The smoke from the furnace weaves it's way between the snow covered buildings.

The plants are sleeping in the pink garden too.

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience
can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

Wishing you contentment and joy in your surroundings, and many blessings throughout this new year - 2009.

This is what we can look forward to after a long winter's nap! Oh joy!