Arista Looks OK

I got a call this afternoon from Brittany asking what street our motor home is parked on for the winter.  She then started to describe the house where it is parked. She then informed me that the house was on fire and I should check her twitter for a picture. Well the picture confirmed that it was where Arista is parked for the winter. Fortunately it is parked far enough away that it should be OK. We drove out and spent the next few hours with Jim and Susan as they tried to grapple with the reality that there house was gone. None of us were able to get close enough to check our motor home but it looks fine. We will have to check it out tomorrow and see if there is any smoke damage. My hearth aches for Jim and Susan. I can't imagine what she must have felt as she drove home to find her home that she designed and had built burning to the ground. My heart aches for her. Below are a few pictures I was able to post.

This was taken in mid afternoon

Arista is visible to the left in this picture

BRRRRRR It's Cold Outside

It must be January as the temperatures are bone chilling. We are in a deep freeze this week and with highs of -12 and lows in the mid -20's it is just too cold for me to be out. I have been busy keeping the bird feeders full and watching who is coming to refuel there bodies so they don't freeze in this arctic air. I have enjoyed a few new visitors that have not been here before. There are about 8 Common Redpolls that have been here for a few weeks and the other new visitor is a White-Winged Crossbill. He has been by on two different days that I have noticed in the past week. With all his amazing colours he is very easy to spot when he arrives. Below are a few of the wonderful things  I have enjoyed over the past few weeks.

Male Common Redpoll

Female Common Redpoll

Female Dark Eyed Junco

A male House Finch that is more white than red.

 

Trying to figure out how to get seed 

out of the squirrel proof feeder

 

Mourning Dove in the apple tree

All puffed out and napping on the fence

 

An afternoon visit from Mrs. Cardinal

 

A rainbow of colour on the male White-Winged Crossbill.

What a strange beak you have but you are beautiful

Some of Winters Beauty

Waters edge with ice on the pond

Bird prints in the fresh snow

Snow on the driftwood in the garden

Bunny must have visited through the night

Snow on the remains of the clematis flowers

A Walk With Deer Friends

On Saturday, December 29th when we were driving home from the hospital after visiting Duncan's Dad who had had a massive heart attack the day before Drew spotted a few deer in a small woods. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera and Duncan was not about to tramp through the snow and cold if we came back. He suggested that Janet would love to take me. When we arrived home Janet was more than willing to head out on this adventure. We grabbed our cameras and headed back to see if we could find them in the woods, Well, we had great success and enjoyed our lengthy visit with the deer. There were 5 in total, 3 females and 2 males. One male had antlers and the other was just starting to grow them. Janet chanted and sang to them and was able to keep there attention a bit so I could get closer to them. What a great experience we were able to share together that afternoon out in the woods.

Winter's beauty in the woods

I have my camera ready if we find the deer

I spot a couple off in the woods

She is keeping a close eye on us

How can you not love a face like that

A fresh coat of snow on the plants

The buck was being a little more cautious

This male is just getting antler buds. 

What I would do to have eyelashes like that!!!

Janet entertaining the deer

Lip smacking good!!!

A smile with in natures smile

Snow drop lips from snacking

Keeping an eye on the girls

Winter's reflections