Scattered Seed

I was dressing in our motel room this morning when I heard George say “oh, no!” He had parted the curtain at the window and pointed out that the snow was coming down heavily and somewhat horizontally, with at least 6 inches on the ground at that point. When we went to bed eight hours earlier, the ground was bare, and we really wondered what the weather advisory was about. We certainly found out today!
Taking secondary roads, we traveled with Dad and Evelyn about forty miles per hour on slick and snow-covered roads towards Rochester. Her first appointment was mid-morning, and we made it on time after an adventurous two-hour trip. The temperature only rose to 18 degrees, with a windchill near zero. We had packed blankets, a shovel, and a bag of snacks in the back, if needed.
From the hospital to the doctor’s office to a restaurant for lunch, it was a lot of slushing through the cold and snow, and my feet went from chilled to frozen (who thought to pack boots?)

George decided on the Thruway for the drive back.  It seemed it would be cleared of snow by then, but it had its spots of snow, white-outs, and traffic backed up by huge snow plows. It was such relief to arrive back in Auburn before sunset.
Needing hot showers and a nap, George and I headed back to the motel for a bit, and dinner had to wait.   We eventually ordered take-out to share back at the apartment with Dad and Evelyn, and still we yawned our way through. All that fresh, very cold air, had taken its toll, and I don’t think we are going to make it till midnight. I am just happy to be safe and warm with snuggly dry socks on my feet tonight.
Happy New Year everyone!

Our snow is gone, but the winter weather lurks out there. We had plans to head to Auburn tomorrow morning, pick up my dad and Evelyn, and head on to Rochester for her doctor’s appointments. As we were on our way to the kennel to drop Martha off this afternoon

(poor Martha, I hate leaving her), we heard the weather report complete with a winter weather advisory for early morning. We decided we would gather up our things, and head out tonight.
We arrived in town as dark had settled in. We stopped at the mall for a quick bite to eat….the eatery only took cash…..we had to find an ATM. As we walked away from the machine, I looked up at the sign over the neighboring store, and saw the name of old friends that we haven’t seen in over twenty years. They had a strawberry farm last we knew, and now they have a winery!   The saleslady was very helpful, and we chose a nice elderberry wine. We are enjoying it tonight, as we relax at in our motel room. I will have to get a note off to Marge and Angelo to tell them we love their wine.
I called Dad about 8 o’clock. I knew they had a full day with visitors, so we said we would see them early in the morning. George’s alarm is set for 6:30. Being here has allowed us an extra couple hours of sleep at least. We’ll see what the weather brings in the morning.

This is my vacation week, or my four days, I should say. I have to report back to work on Friday. With all the preparation for Christmas, I really didn’t put much thought into how I would spend my days this week, other than New Year’s Eve day, which has been planned.
Today, being sunny and pleasant, I was torn between wanting to be home to putter around the house and enjoy the birds at my feeders, or getting out and away for the day.   I could be quite happy staying put,  but these days off don’t come often enough.
I spent a couple of hours in the kitchen, tidying up and keeping an eye out back. Squirrels were the attraction of the day. I had cut up some aging apples, and smeared them with peanut butter, and this little one took notice.

His buddy was busy elsewhere.    I had George put a bungee cord over the roof,  so he couldn’t pop that off easily.   This guy simply tipped it over….(its rope hanger had been previously chewed)

Time for a new plan,  or feeder.

Mid-morning we headed out on errands, and drove on into Pennsylvania to Ives Run for a drive-through (only one crow, one hawk unidentified, and a blue jay were spotted).     A pretty area to explore nonetheless.
Lunch was at the diner in Wellsboro,  then the drive back on route 6, through the hills in the afternoon sun which promptly put me to sleep. So much for my outing, I just couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Either at home or in the car,  I am destined for some rest and relaxation this week.   I think the past couple of months are catching up with me.

While Garrett was home for the holiday, I made a request for a new template for my blog. I wanted something clean and new, and he was happy to oblige. Nothing is ever as easy as I think it should be, so I appreciate his work at setting things up and resizing all my pictures. I tried to repay him with his favorite foods while he is home, but he actually cooked a lot of good food for us too! We enjoyed having him home…..

Technology is like magic to me.   My kids are always teaching or showing me something new,  and I am amazed.    Today,  hundreds of miles apart from each other,  all three sat down at their laptops and we had an iChat with each other.     It was like having Rebecca,  Melissa,  Morgan and Albert right here with us.   We chatted for about an hour, and with some creative walk-arounds,  we were able to see the snowfall in Seattle,  and the home-improvements in Durham.   What fun!

That’s me in the little box at the bottom,  taking the picture…..

 Origami Santa

Baked clay Santa

 Ceramic pitcher by George’s grandmother, 1959

Cross stitch Santa

Candle holder Santa scene of our home,  from our friends in Finland

Garrett is home,  we are all relaxing together.   I could easily doze off now that the workday is done and the holiday and a week’s vacation lies ahead of me.     Thank goodness Santa will take over tonight,  so I can get some rest!

Our fourth winter weather advisory has been issued for the month of December.   Number 3 on Sunday didn’t amount to much,  so maybe this one won’t either.  After work tonight I headed out to fill the bird feeders.   Ice and freezing rain is due to move into our area around midnight,  and I wanted to have seed out in case the deck is a dangerous place to be in the morning.

I wish for safe journeys for all holiday travelers,  and especially for Garrett, as he drives down from the outskirts of Buffalo tomorrow.

It was bitter cold today,  beginning with a 4 degree reading when I first got up this morning.   Now the temperatures are supposed to start rising,  and I wonder if we really will have a white Christmas after all.

Awake at 5 a.m.  with much on my mind,  it seems that it has been a very long day.  George again took care of the errands,  and cooked our dinner,  so that I could kick my shoes off and relax a little bit tonight.  That is the best present ever!

Tomorrow I go in to work an hour early in hopes of being able to leave a little earlier than usual.   At least that is the plan.  Once my workday is over,  I will get my second wind,  and the holiday can begin.

It was so cold today!   I didn’t want to leave the house, and when I did,  there was a lot of scraping of the windshield to do.    Snow was still in the air today,  but lighter than it has been.   At work,   warm blankets were the order of the day,  and I wore a jacket in the hallways,  as there are so many doors that open to the outdoors as I pass through.

George is now on break for the next couple of weeks,  and fortunately,  took care of many chores and errands that needed to be done.  I appreciated his wrangling with the insurance company over coverage of my August surgery.  With two policies,  and one error on the part of the doctor’s office,  it took him much of the day to get it all straightened out!    When I returned home about 5:30,  we headed back out the door for a dinner out.   Our list of things to accomplish tonight was quite long,  so this gave us a break in the kitchen at least.

Friday after work,  I came home and cooked some homemade dog biscuits for one of our residents.   As part of his therapy he had mixed the dog biscuit dough and cut out the shapes,  and I only needed to cook and dry them overnight for him.   Today he cut pieces of felt for a little stocking,  and I sewed that up when we got home from dinner.   Tomorrow he will fill the stocking with the dog biscuits and present them to his dog, Jake, on Christmas day.

All’s quiet now,  and our chores are done.   Garrett called earlier as he was about to make candy cane cookies for work,  and had a question.  Morgan instant-messaged with me from Seattle.   Rebecca called for the oven temperature for her own candy cane cookie baking.  I made a call to Dad and Evelyn and chatted with them a bit about their day and upcoming week.   Now George and I are settled down with the animals to watch a movie.

Presents are multiplying under the tree,  but the cats still seem to find a place to hide out under there.  For some reason,  Picasso enjoys going under for her drinking water.    I just enjoy the decorations and colored lights,  and when George unplugs them,  I know it’s time for bed.

Two more days of work.   Then Christmas.  Then a week’s vacation for me.    Can’t wait.

Up at daybreak,  the furnace running,  the wind blowing the snow horizontally across the deck.    In the early light I could see the juncos in the snow,  and the mourning doves in the trees.   It turned out to be one of the best Feederwatch days I’ve ever had.

A lone brown-headed cowbird showed up,  and showed me his snow-covered beak

The Carolina wren returned, and went straight for the suet

There were two white-breasted nuthatches stopping by this afternoon

A hairy woodpecker worked up and down the willow tree

A female cardinal stayed around most of the day,  but kept its distance whenever Martha was let out

The mourning doves huddled together in the sun,  but were soon under attack…..

One flew into our diningroom window when this Cooper’s hawk flew in (I think the dove escaped)

I spent the day catching up on the laundry,  George wrapped presents,  and I managed to get a second batch of Christmas cookies underway.   Yesterday I made the snowball cookies that I remember from my early Christmases,  and today I made George’s childhood favorite,   date pinwheel cookies.

I was chopping dates and walnuts as Morgan and Albert flew across Iowa at 452 miles an hour.

George and I sat down together just before two o’clock this afternoon, to watch their plane near the airport in Seattle.  A few minutes later the site notified us that they had touched down.   With all the winter weather across the country this weekend, we were anxious to know they were safely there.   I was back in the kitchen a few minutes later when a text message came on my phone from Morgan to confirm their arrival.

George plugged in our Christmas lights early in the day,  and with all the wrapping and baking,  we longed for some new Christmas music.   We agreed on a music box selection,  both of us reminiscing about a shop at the mall near the college we both attended many years ago.   I remember Faudree’s as a feast for the senses…..beautiful music,  smells,  and items for sale.   We rarely bought anything, but I loved to go in and hear the music box selection on the symphonium.    With a little search and click,  we downloaded our music into my iTunes,  and the sound took me back thirty-some years,  before calculators,  computers,  cell phones, or the ability to track an air flight in real time.

Tonight the wind is howling, and the furnace is working overtime to keep us warm.   We have another weather alert for the morning,  this time a windchill advisory.   The cats have the right idea….snuggle up!     Winter is definitely here.

George was off on a bus run before daybreak,  so I was up early and out filling the bird feeders as the sun came up.   I pulled on my heavy coat, boots and gloves,  and trudged down the snow-covered back steps and out through the snow.  It snowed off and on all day,  so that my footprints have partially filled in.

We have about 6 inches on the ground now, with more expected tomorrow.     Tonight it is 9 degrees,  and the next storm is supposed to move in during the night.    I ran my weekend errands today,  so that we can stay in tomorrow.   It should be another good birdwatching day.

only one goldfinch stopped by today…..

there were 8 juncos at one point,  and they scavenged for seed wherever they could find it….

the chickadees enjoyed George’s homemade suet…..

the blue jays come for the peanuts,  and disappear when the peanuts are gone……

a red-bellied woodpecker…..I hadn’t seen one here in a couple of years….

it took many shots to really capture the red on his head!