February Thaw

We have been given a gift this week, a period of days when the temperature is well above normal.  The snow is melting.  It's not a pretty sight, as all of the dirt and debris of the winter, that has been covered almost daily with fresh snow, is popping into view.

But, the squirrels are in hog heaven!  All winter I have been complaining that as soon as I go out and put down fresh feed, it snows again and covers it.  That meant that a lot of the feed either got trampled down in the feeding area or shoveled up and thrown out with the snow, as I kept the area clean.  Now that the snow is melting, all of that feed has been coming back into view.  For the past two days, every time I looked out of the window, there were squirrels out there, feasting.

But the best surprise came this morning.  I looked out of the window, and there, under the feeder were THE TURKEY LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I hadn't said anything on the blog, but I have been worried about them, these past weeks.  It's not unusual for them to disappear during snow periods.  Poor girls, they're too dumb to realize that they can fly over to the feeding area, and don't have to walk through the deep snow.  But, the snow cover has been so deep, and so persistent, since the first part of January, that I was really worried that they wouldn't make it, and would starve to death back in the woods.

So, I sneaked to the window, counting as I went.  One, two, three, four and five!  They were all there.  Welcome back Turkey Ladies!

The very best part of all?  It's my birthday today, and I can't imagine a better present than seeing the girls again!