This & That

 

Well it is the last day of February already WOW ! that went fast .  Not much going on here really it is kind of quiet , Miggs and I just got back from a nice walk , all though overcast the temps aren't to bad  there is a little nip in the air today  and the winds are blowing a little so far but later on winds are to pick up and gust up to 75 km/h or 46mph and with a mix of rain and snow , we had rain over night last night .

  I have received a lovely gift  that I had won from Beverly's lovely blog  http://www.treasuredupandpondered.blogspot.ca/

  It arrived earlier today in the mail , I love getting snail mail , such a treat now a days .  Thank you  Beverly for the wonderful gift and lovely hand written  card you wrote to me .

Yesterday as I was out side cause it was a lovely sunny 10C or 50F  day not only did I see and hear the Robin but I  saw a few Grackles , there was one under the feeders gobbling up the seed .

So the Robins have returned shared that in yesterdays post I am always soo happy to have them back , the Grackles are here now to and I swear I heard a Red Winged Black bird in the marsh down by the river  but haven't seen one as of yet . I think March will be a tricky month as it always is and teases us for bit as though spring is almost here then SMACK ! snow is falling . Our ground here is warm and squishy  and the Robins have been pulling up worms and grubs from it already as have the Starling's  so any snow we do get now  I don't think will stay for long .

                My Daffodils are still managing to grow  above the ground and getting taller bit by bit  and all seem to be doing well so far !  I hope spring comes early this year and pushes old man winter out  soon , even though this winter has been a mild and fairly snowless one for us  compared to years past  but , I am ready to get going with my gardens and do the things we do in the spring time  and the return of more birdies to our  yard  , loosing some  layers of coats and jackets  and be able to sit outside in the sunshine and  not be cold  , start hanging my laundry out on the line , camp fires  and longer walks , as the sun rises  early in the mornings and I can sit out on the porch  with a cup a tea in hand Miggs beside me and watch and  hear nature  wake up and greet the day , sun sets are later in the evenings and see pretty sky’s as the sun lowers on the horizon and the birds sing one last time before bed , warm air and fresh breezes  windows open all day and night , peepers and crickets chirp through out the day and night as their sound echo's through the valley and marshes ,   just a few of the things I love about spring time . 

                                                          So come on SPRING !  I am patiently waiting for you !

          

                                                                                        Until next time 

                                                                                   Country Gal

Sun Shine & Spring Is On It’s Way

 

Oh how I love sun shine  it makes me happy . I love the sun sets and the sun rises  and when the sun comes out after a snow storm or a  rain storm , I love how the sun reflects on everything and glitters on a frosty morning , how the clouds shimmer with the sun inside them or on the edge of them , I love how the sun shines pinks , oranges and purples across the sky's , how the sun makes every thing look and feel so much happier when it is out .

                                 Yup you guess it  … I am joining Karen and others in Sunlit Sunday !

     The sun has been shining for two days and it has warmed up as has the land  , what little snow we got has gone            again  .   

           

                                 My Geraniums and Cactus are blooming and they look  even prettier when the sun shines on them .

                                                                Miggs is loving this mild sunny weather as well !

                   I took this yesterday from my living room window , oh boy  spring is in the air here  and in the ground to lol !

                                                             Miggs playing peekaboo behind our center garden !

                                                                                  This mornings sun rise !

I was walking about out side this morning .. yes in my jammies it was quite pleasant and mild  and I heard a sound I have been waiting for , the sound of spring  and my favorite bird ,  at first I just thought it was my ears playing tricks on me cause I want to hear them so badly .

But then not only did I hear him I saw him ..   Yup Mr. Robin chirped and I saw him in our crab apple tree feasting on the berries . I spoke to him and welcomed him home and this is the look I got lol !  I was soo happy to see him .

                    I love that the sun rises earlier and sets later now to .  So with the sun shining  , the spring flowers poking above ground and the Robins return chirping and singing their pretty song  and even the rain we are to get this evening all signs  that spring is closer now and  I am a happy camper !

                                                                                      Until next time

                                                                                 Country Gal

During & After The 2 Day Storm

 

Well we had two days of nasty storm weather  with a mix of all sorts and lots of people had rain , snow , high winds , freezing rain  and it was  cold . Here we didn’t do to bad had lots of  rain high winds that were cold  then the next day we had a dusting of snow with more high winds that were very cold with snow squalls . We had very wet snow falling and some stayed but most melted as it hit the ground , our ground is warm now as I saw lots of birds pecking at the ground through the grass and they were actually pulling up worms and grubs .

                                                          Poor little birdies were all soaking wet .

                                  But the  rotten weather didn't keep them all from feasting  they just feast more lol !

                                      We had a few birdies under our porch taking cover as they usually do in a rain storm .

               I love seeing them and hearing them chirp happily even in a storm  under our porch so close to the kitchen !

                                            This rain storm was one day  then the next day we had some snow !

                                                    The birds weren’t the only ones feasting in the storms !

                        It was very wet snow and in a few hours of wind  and a jump up in temps lots of it had melted fast !

                  So now  it is the  day after the 2 day storms and we have hardly any snow left and the sun has risen , all though chilly out it is to be sunny all day and all weekend which it is the last weekend of February already  and the temps are to be mild as well going up to +8 or 46°F  I can handle that with  the sun shine .

                         So that was our two day storm and all is good and sunshine at the end of the  weather rainbow so to speak !

                                                         Spring is on it’s way as I am seeing little fragments of it here and there !

                                                                                        Until next time .

                                                                                 Country Gal        

Good Bye To Our Dear Blogging Friend

 

I am so sad  to have to announce that one of our  blogger sisters / friends  , fellow Ontarian  and wonderful photographer  Tina Forrester and her husband Tom have passed away due to a car accident  a few days ago  . My heart and prayers go out to them and their family ! We have never met in person  but I feel like I knew her through her wonderful  blog http://eastgwillimburywow.blogspot.ca/ and on Face book    .

                         

                                                                      You will be missed by all  your friends and blogging sisters .

                                                                                                        

                                                                                         Country Gal

The Day Before The Storm

 

Miggs and I had been out side most of the day yesterday  soaking up the warm clear sunny day , I was raking up twigs and old seed and I had a nice fire going in our chiminea  as well . Miggs and I played ball , I took photos and  watched the birdies it was a wonderful spring like day .

                Oh the smell of wood smoke on a fresh sunny day is amazing I love it  , If only I could bottle that smell !

                                                            Yesterdays sunrise was soo pretty with the  contrails floating in the sky !

                                     Miggs and I went for a nice walk early in the morning  then had a game of ball  in the yard !

                                 Miggs loves her outside toys and always loves to play  she has so much energy and is so fun !

Whilst Miggs was figuring out what ball she wanted to play with I took photos of the yard and sky . I like to document the weather each year each month , just to look back on over the years and see how much the climate changes from year to year .

                                                 Then Miggs came to me with her choice and off we played again lol !

This time Miggs decided to have one ball in her mouth and chase the other  something she has done since a puppy !

Miggs was getting tired and I had taken oh a hundred shots or so of her playing so that was it for the toys  , time to rest .

                                                                Whilst Miggs was resting in the sun shine.

                                                                                And always on yard duty !

                                                      I went about and .. yup you guessed it took more photos !

                                  The birds have been feasting at all the feeders and enjoying the spring like weather !

There is a big storm brewing in the area coming up from the states  and for our Ontario today  , and it has a mix of all sorts for us , some are getting   snow , some are getting freezing rain and right now we are getting rain .

                             So we are in today puttering and the girls are doing what they do best on a rainy windy chilly day .

                                                                                     relaxing and snoozing !

              So that was our day yesterday  before this storm set in for today . I  hope we just keep getting the rain  and no snow that this storm is to possibly have  , they say rain for some parts of Ontario mostly the most southern parts like us  and snow for others  in the snow belt areas that are mostly in the north east   in other wards a mixed bag of mother nature for everyone in our province  lol  . 

                                                                                       Until next time

                                                                                    Country Gal

A Bit Of This & That

 

                I cant believe this is the last week of February already  WOW !  were do the days and weeks go .

Look who I see  out and about in the mild weather  why it is Chippy .  He woke from his winter slumber for a snack and to see what has been going on in the yard .

Here the Chipmunks don't usually come out till spring  , so maybe this is a good sign as the weather has been warm and sunny over the weekend !

It has been like spring here as the temps both days hit  highs of  10C or 50F  to 13C or 56F  it was glorious ! I went out side and cleaned and raked under the feeders to get rid of all the leftover seed shucks and to tidy it up a bit around the feeders .

The Daffodils were up earlier and I had worried about the last snow fall and cold snap that they would get damaged but as you see here they are doing well !

                                                                             No snow left anywhere now .!

                                  My indoor blooms are also out and making it spring like with their pretty colours !

                                                  My African Violets take turns in the bloom department lol !

                                                         But all my Geraniums like to bloom all together !

I cant believe how lovely the weather has been and the male Cardinals are singing their spring mating songs now , I haven't spotted a Robin yet but maybe soon with this spring like atmosphere here !

Miggs has been outside every day just loving  the sun and sounds of the yard and keeping everything under control of course lol ! We seem to have a pesky Raccoon about so she is keeping him at bay to  he is small and not rabid thank goodness cause he just runs when she barks if he was rabid he would stand his ground  , Miggs has had all her shots  but still wouldn't want them to get into a scrap !

               Today it is chilly but will be warming up and the sun is to be shining soon I hope lol  rain for tomorrow .

             I would like to welcome a few new followers and thank all of you for taking the time to comment and for popping by .

                                                                                        Until next time  .

                                                                                      Country Gal