"What's the Super Bowl, Leon?"

Asks Young Rachael.

"It's a human game, where big men run around and try to knock each other down." answers Leon.

"That sounds kind of boring," Rachael replies.

"Yup" says Leon, "we might as well join the old ladies"

A short time later.

Out of My Rear Window 2/6/11

Another snowfall last night left everything covered with a white icing.  It's heavy, wet stuff, and I'm procrastinating as I find other things to do than go out and shovel.  But, I'll have to go out after I finish posting this.

You can't see it very well, but the area under the feeders is all torn up.  I got up around 2 AM last night, and, when I looked out of the window, there were four deer there, digging for food.  I think that they got quite a bit because, for the first time in a long time, the Mallards didn't come.  I don't know if the snow was just too bad last night, or if they have finally given up and moved someplace where there is more food.  Anyway, it was beautiful to watch those four lovely silhouettes move around in my yard.

Mid-Winter Orange Trail

So, I opted for safe and familiar yesterday and took myself off to the Whiting Road preserve.  And, as usual, I had a wonderful walk.

The trail was still and quiet.  I only passed a couple of other people the whole time I was there, and they were on cross-country skis.  Snow cover, deep and still, blanketed the woods.

The little streams were running fast enough that they were still open.  That means that all of the woods creatures still had a place to drink from.

There were deer tracks everywhere.  I took a photo of this track because the two toed construction was very clear.

Most of the deer tracks were walking tracks, but I did see this one set of tracks where the deer was bounding through the woods.  I wonder what startled it?  I suppose it could very well have been one of the dogs that people walk there.  They are supposed to be on leash, but I very rarely see one that is.

I have been wondering what the occasional splashes of red on the ground were, and speculating what kind of berries made them.  Yesterday, they were very numerous, and I finally made the connection.  They were sumac berries, fallen to the ground when the birds were eating them.  The color is so beautiful that I wondered if you could use them to make dye.  I did a little research, and, sure enough, sumac berries make a good natural dye.

These winged seeds, probably from some kind of Maple, are still hanging on, waiting until Spring before they spin to the ground.

For some reason, this picture of the snow-capped fungus, makes me smile.

I wonder if some little creature is hiding under this snow covered brush, safe and warm, waiting for Spring?

But, the greatest joy of this walk were the Robins.  The last time I was there, they were all in the Great Meadow, flitting from tree, to branch to bramble.  This time, they were in the woods, and they were much less timid.  I was able to get several close-up shots of them, and one thing I noticed was that they were all males.  That's a bit of a puzzle.  Do the females still go south, leaving the males behind so that they are there to stake out the very best places to build a nest in the coming Spring?

Bingo!  Robin and Cardinal in one shot!

And, my favorite shot of the day, this Robin all puffed up, insulated against the chill.

Just as I was leaving, I met the most charming lady, just starting her walk.  She had to be even older than I am, with one of those glorious faces that show a life well lived.  She was there with her old German Shepherd, who showed just as much character as she did.  Dumb me, I never asked if I could take her picture.  I wish I had, but, hopefully, I'll see her again.

Cardinal Congregation

I never made it out to the Thousand Acre Swamp yesterday.  Life got in the way.  I don't know whether or not I'll try today.  Truth told, it's very isolated and I worry about being back in there along, even with my cell phone.  I need to get out and walk, though, so I'll go someplace, even if it's only back to North Ponds Park.

Yesterday afternoon, the cardinals suddenly remembered that there was food around here and gathered in force.  Don't they look like Christmas tree ornaments in this picture?

And, here they are, with some of their lady friends, and the ever present Mourning Doves, at the feeder.

They are such silly, flighty birds.  And, they argue all the time.  It's a good thing they're so pretty.

Odds and Ends

No theme to today's entry, just a bunch of pictures I have taken over the last 24 hours.

Take Off

Bright sunshiny day

Where's the clean up crew?

 Up a tree.

Blue skies

Clean up done.

I'm thinking of heading over to the Thousand Acre Swamp today.  I'm hoping that there will have been some skiers and snowshoers who will have gone before me and tromped down a path.  I ordered a trail camera yesterday, snowshoes are next on the list.

Storm Fail

While a lot of the country suffered under a massive storm, Western New York got another pass.  Instead of the nine to 15 inches that were predicted, we got a miserable two or three, with another inch or so supposed to fall today.  While I'm mostly happy about it, there is that little bit of kid in me who is very disappointed because she wanted to see lots and lots of snow on the ground.  The view out of the window doesn't look much different than it did yesterday.

Leon, of course, says he knew it all along.

Uggg, he's going to be insufferable all day today.

I'm going out now, to shovel the piddling amount we did get, so that the birds and critters can get to the food.

Edited to add that the shoveling did it.  No sooner had I got back into the house when it started to snow.  That will cover all the sunnies I put out on the ground very nicely.  Sigh.

Our Turn

After a winter where we were spared the brunt of many of the major storms that hit the East Coast, we're finally in line for a major winter storm.  They're predicting 9 to 15 inches of snow to fall tonight and into tomorrow.  That's a lot, but I think that we will be able to handle it.  Though, it's going to be one of those times when I'm very glad that I don't have to pack up and go to work, but can just sit and watch it out of the window.

Leon, however, is not so sure about this ability to handle the snow.  So, he has his cave all picked out, just in case.