~ today's view...

...snow, as predicted.



Schools are closed.  Rick made it to work, slowly, but okay.

Time to stop looking out the window and get back to my sewing room! :-)

~ today's view...

...from the front porch.  Tomorrow will be different.



I love the little bird nest in this tree (upper left corner of photo).  Last summer there were three baby goldfinch birdies in there...chirping away :-)

~ winter sunset...

...too pretty to let it pass by.  I grabbed my "new" camera and because I had to be quick, I set it on the "auto" setting.  I did some minimal photoshop editing.  I think it's okay -- but I want to do better.

~ the day after...

...winter storm Octavia.

Ozzy doesn't care that the temperature outside is only 5 degrees farenheit.  He wants to go for a walk with me in the early morning.  I try to delay the walk when it is so cold -- but he is persistent -- so I bundle up and take him.

This morning we were treated to a beautiful sky -- and the morning flight of birds that passes overhead.  This is a daily morning event -- usually I'm back in the house by this time, but this morning I took Ozzy for his walk and then came back in for my camera to take some photos of the beautiful morning, and...



...so I could take a photo of this :-(


I first noticed some fur on the top of the snow (right side of photo).  And then...the spatter of blood :-(  It was bright red when I first saw it, and between the time when I went into the house to get my camera and then came back outside the spatter drops had deepened in color.

I am feeling guilty now.  Do you think if I had not delayed Ozzy's walk this would have not happened?  And then I think that this was not a random act of violence -- it was a wild animal catching it's prey to be eaten for survival.

There are some tracks -- and the fur can be from either a cat or rabbit.  It's possible a vulture swooped down to pick up this animal -- but I didn't see any feathers.  Since this happened on my front lawn, I will have to investigate it further -- I really don't want to have an animal carcass hanging around when the weather warms up.

For now, I am off to the store to purchase some sewing supplies so I can continue with the quiltalong I mentioned yesterday.

~ snow gauge...

...this is what winter storm Juno left for us



...between 3-5 inches.  Not overwhelming -- just pretty! :-)

How much snow did you get?

~ snow gauge...

Since I shared this view in my post a few days ago, I decided to use it as my snow gauge for winter storm Juno.



Current conditions:  25 degrees farenheit with light snow

------------------------------------------------

~ Sofia has a half day of school
~ Rick should leave work early
~ Nicholas has opted to do today's classwork at home
~ I will relax once everyone is home safely.

~ winter garden...

The view I shared with Ozzy during our morning stroll.



~ summer garden...



The magic of mother nature is AMAZING!

~ putting away winter...

Sofia told me that winter is still lingering...because of the "snow theme" decorations that I still have out.  I have been putting them away s-l-o-w-l-y this week.  Let's see if her theory proves correct once they are all down and out of sight.



:-)

~ the purging continues...

...inside



From left to right, recycling (almost full), garbage (almost full), goodwill (1 item).  Rick just took a full bag to goodwill this morning, so I am starting a new one.  The recycling and garbage never end... :-(

While I was taking the photo, I heard some noise...

...outside -- hungry visitors :-)



I am amazed that these creatures can survive the extreme winter weather -- but -- there they are!

Hope you are able to enjoy some winter sunshine today too!