Collaboration

Here's how an eight year old and a five year old collaborate to cope with a bad day. Snow days call for creativity!

New Year's Eve

Planning the garden.

No bugs, no weeds, perfection.

Optimism reigns.

After Christmas

Bill and I extended our Christmas  celebration with a trip to Paris...Paris, TN, that is. We met David & Trisha, Laura, Mike, Claire and Amanda at a cabin at Paris Landing State Park. The weather was dreary, but spirits were sunny. Wednesday afternoon we took a wet drive through the Elk and Bison Prarie in Land-between-the-Lakes Park. It was thrilling to see the animals up close from our car. They were peacefully grazing just a few yards from the road, not bothered by our presence.

Tennessee Sandhill Cranes

By thousands they come

Hiwassee winter refuge

Sandhill sanctuary

Yesterday (12/23) we visited the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge for the first time. This area, near Cleveland, Tennessee, is managed for waterfoul and thousands stop over on their migrations. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes spend the winter here and thousands of others stop over to refuel on their flight to Florida. My little camera cannot do them justice. We were surrounded on all sides by these magnificent birds and the sound of their bugling was magical. For more information: Tenn Watchable Wildlife

Lunch at Laura's

Oven-warm, homemade bread
Spicy peach jam, taste of summer
Feed body and soul.

Snow Day

Host of cardinal

Feast with nuthatch and titmouse.

Proclaim the season!

At my feeders and trees today:

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Cardinal - male and female

Tufted Titmouse

Nuthatch

Carolina Chickadee

Chipping Sparrow

Junco

Eastern Bluebird

Rufous-sided Towhee

Mourning Dove

Song Sparrow

Crow

December's breath

 

December arrived

With frozen breath, darkened days,

Too much cold for me.