Colors of Winter

We have to search for color in the winter landscape.

At first glance it appears monochromatic.

But there's pale color in the sunrise....

Soft peachy hues on the snowy trees....

and muted gold as the sun lights the treetops.

I find a little color up by the barn - dual wheels for the big Ford tractor...used for spring field work.

A broken, crooked window in the machinery shed.

Hay bales on a wagon.

Snowy conifers by the compost piles.

Not much color in the woodpile, but there's a glimpse of red on the tractor as hubby plows snow.

(Click photos for a larger view)

Oh, there are some rich, earthy shades in the birch bark!

Wheelbarrows waiting to be put away in the shed.

Snowy green tractor and buildings.

The neighbor's red barn, now used to house horses.

Our old barn by the shale bed.

Jasmine is a bright spot against the white expanse, as she ventures out into the snowy morning.

Molly thinks she might like to go too.....

...but changes her mind quickly and heads back for the door when she feels that icy snow on her paws.

Within a very short time Jasmine is at the front sliding glass door, scratching at the screen (which needs to be replaced because of her bad habit). "Let me back in please, Mom. It's cold out here!"

Sheba goes with hubby to the mailbox. She's a barn cat and doesn't seem to mind being out in all kinds of weather.

Hubby plows some more snow.....

It keeps him busy.

The birds arrive early to fuel up against the cold. There's a male hairy woodpecker on the suet, goldfinches and sparrows on the tray.

The goldfinches are wearing their olive-gold winter colors.

But the blue jays are always bright in color and brash in nature, brazenly scattering the small birds from the tray to eat their fill of seeds and corn. They don't stay long though, so there's always plenty to go around.

The chickadees and goldfinches love my (their) Christmas present. The cage feeder keeps the big birds out.

The little male downy woody loves that suet!

We've had a female red-bellied woody showing up quite regularly too. I wonder if she's the same one that came last year.

The little gray and white juncos are some of the earliest at the feeders in the mornings. They come just as the darkness begins to lift.

Oh, here's another early bird....Mrs. Cardinal!

And...a brilliant spot of red.....Mr. Cardinal, who has begun to grace us with his presence more often lately, if briefly. I've yet to see him on a feeder. I don't know if it's the same pair we had during the summer, but back then he was the bold one and she was the shy one.

At the end of the day, as the sun sets behind the hills, the winter sky delights us with a glorious show.

The colors of winter are there for us to find.....we just need to look a little harder.

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!