Accumulating snow still eludes us in this warmer-than-normal weather, but the temperature is starting feel like it really is January. This morning it was in the single digits. Despite the cold weather, a couple of pansies are still providing color. A welcome sight among the browns.
The deer are coming in increasing numbers with 8-12 at a time not uncommon. You can tell that they are comfortable in our yard because they often take an afternoon nap here. The squirrels are busy as ever and I observed one doing something I had never noticed before. It was gathering up dried leaves in its mouth and then disappearing into a tall pine tree. I assume that it was lining its nest to help protect against the cold weather that is finally here.
Here are a few things I saw this week
 |
| Although this pansy is a little ragged around the edges, it survived last night's very cold temperatures. |
 |
| This picture was taken before the really cold night. The pansy is still blooming, but drooping a little now. |
 |
| You just never know when or where you'll find a dandelion blooming. |
 |
| Downy woodpecker |
 |
| At the end of the yard, there were 11 deer grazing yesterday. |
 |
| Much closer to the house, these deer were lounging after grazing for a while. |
 |
| The squirrel stuffed some more leaves into its mouth before it disappeared high into a pine tree. |
