So we ended up with 25 - 30 cm (10-12 inches) of snow yesterday, according to Environment Canada, but the wind was really blowing so it drifted all over the place. Ottawa got less snow than we did.
When I got up this morning, the thermometer read -22C but I went out to take a few pics anyway.
I am glad I don't have to pee outside like the dogs! Also glad the days of outhouses are past.
The birdbath is nearly buried in a drift. It's that round thing to the right of the birdfeeder.
I've seen worse! Still, it was our first real storm of the winter. Pretty late for these parts.
The fields next door had ripples from the drifting. Dramatic and tundra-esque.
The birds were ravenous (chickadee-enous? Does "ravenous" come from "raven"?) ! I spread some seed on my office windowsill (near the birdfeeder) and the chickadees dove right in. They have no fear. Or no sense!
Watching me watch him. (Or her!) I am feeding these cuties by hand every day now, getting them used to me. They are not deterred by my bright red coat. I love the sound of their wings fluttering around my head as they check me out in preparation for landing.
Meanwhile, Bernie ploughed our laneway twice in 24 hours. He's a farmer down the road whom we pay to clear our snow. He's extremely reliable, not to mention fastidious! I like his big blue tractor, a New Holland as I recall. I am learning to i.d. tractors by colour.
The amazing thing is that he does this backwards. The snowblower is on the back. He backs all the way down our laneway, which is not a simple task, being, what, 200 feet long? (I really need to measure it!)
Meanwhile, Alex stayed cozy inside and dreamed of a nice feathery lunch. Sorry, Alex, no can do. Have some catnip instead!
I had a great time snowshoeing with the dogs this afternoon in the sunshine and sparkly sun. More snow pics tomorrow.
Ravenous comes from the French raviner from the Latin, and at its root has connotations of rapine and plunder.
ReplyDeleteRaven, on the other hand, comes through Old(e) English from the German side of the family [good old, hræfn and can be traced back to Proto-Indo-European where it is onomatopoetic of a harsh sound.
And there you go.
I love the photo of the drifted snow in the field. It looks like someone has thrown a sheet over it and not straightened it out yet.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to feed the chiskadees by hand.
That should be chickadees.
ReplyDeletevery interesting comment about 'raven'!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL PICTURES Knat!! I love that low winter sunlight. it creates the most beautiful light and shadows.
Thank you for clearing that up, HWB. I was too lazy to look it up. :)
ReplyDeleteLittle Blue Mouse, I like "chiskadees"! :) I am feeding them every day now and they are becoming less cautious.
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