Getting up this morning required more willpower than usual.
Though I had succeeded at last in turning off my alarm App, I woke early anyway.
But Blackie and Muffin came to demand cuddles and how could I disappoint them?
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Then I thought of the poor birds waiting for their feeders and squirrels hoping for nuts.
Mornings like this they are needy.
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As always, the snowbirds were back.
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Where do juncos get to when it’s not snowing?
A flock of starlings huddled in a tree waiting for sight of the suet feeders.
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Mrs Cardinal took the new snowfall in stride, looking as pert as ever.
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Whereas her husband seemed put out…
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“Get off my beak!”
“Horrid white stuff! ‘Bye!”
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On the patio the squirrels were having to dig for breakfast.
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Again!
.
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Snow plow man only comes for 4 inches or more, so it’s unlikely we will see him today. (Having just come in from a situation check, I may have to revise that opinion.)
As a matter of fact, we have never seen our snow plow man
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Snow plowing seems to be a very casual business.
The man who used to come did not turn this winter, so Grant asked our neighbour to have his chap come, which he did in the middle of one night.
Next time the man came at 4.30 am and I wasn’t going out at that hour, so we still haven’t met him, or paid him for that matter.
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The lawn service had operated like this, although we vaguely knew who they were, being that they came in daylight.
But then the owners had some sort of bust-up and I never could get straight who was in and who was out.
The lawn people used to become snow people as the seasons required, but last summer our neighbour acquired a big ride-around mower which Grant took charge of.
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Grant mows Ed’s grass and then uses his machine to cut our grass. Or something like that. I long ago divorced myself from the responsibility of what happens out there.
Anyway I rather assumed that as a result, our ex-lawn service chap would not turn up for snow.
The new, anonymous snowman conducts business the same way, apparently.
At the end of the season (whenever that may be) he will send us a bill.
Presumably.
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Personally I prefer to pay as I go, but we aren’t talking a lot of money, so why argue?
The snow has almost stopped since that last sitrep, and the temperature is hovering just above freezing.
If we are to believe the forecast, this front will not move out until tomorrow morning but the bushes, which are ready to burst into leaf have mostly shaken off their snowy coating.
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Not everyone enjoys pictures of winter but this is what I have to work with.
It’s hard to imagine that one day soon* it’ll be off with the fire and on with the air conditioner.
Never-the-less it’s what normally happens, no gentle easing into warm, buggy weather!
I will endeavour to develop a good attitude about it.
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*Soon come (Spring.) It’s an expression used in the West Indies.
We have had snow here before in April. But none at all this winter, though the rain instead has become rather tedious. The forecast for this weekend is a high of 21C! That is a decent temperature in summer months. Crazy weather in this ever-changing modern world.
Best wishes, Pete.
My fingers and toes are crossed for your wish to come through, Carolyn! I hate winter, together with all your shivering wildlife!
Joanna
The sooner the better!
Very beautiful pictures with fluffy snow and gorgeous birds and squirrels
I also wondered where the snowbirds go when it doesn’t snow (they always look so puffed up in your photos – as if they are truly enjoying the snow). After five warm months, I am now ready for cold weather (although no snow will be predicted for us) … and that’s why I love looking at your winter snow photos so much. Beautiful!