13°f/-10.5°C, snow tapered off before 10am. Mostly cloudy now, clearing expected later. We are not expecting to get warmer than about 18° today.
Well, it snowed, and the weatherman was pretty much right on target as we ended up with almost 6 inches.
Taken through the door window, which gave it a look I kinda like.
We had planned to go to a play today, and to our great-granddaughter Elliana's 4th birthday party, but instead we holed up here. Little Ellie didn't miss us, I know, as she has her brother and step-siblings to celebrate with her. Here she is in her special birthday dress. Such a little doll.
This next photo has an amazing story: a lady in Wetzel county, West Virginia, has a hummingbird that is wintering over! It did not leave when all the others did, so she has been keeping it alive as best she can with a heated house, a feeder and catching fruit flies and probably some other things. It survived last night's frigid temperatures, but tonight it will be close to zero. Will it make it through the night? Photo is from the Facebook group West Virginia Birding.
Today has been mainly a keeping-warm kind of day, although the dogs and Larry are in and out so much it seems like the doors have been open as much as they've been shut! I finally begged Larry to please keep the doors closed for an hour, so we can get the house above 67° before we go to bed! He did, finally, hook up the electric heated waterer for the rabbifs, which has been here for a few days. Of course he waited until the coldest day we've had so far to do it, but I think the rabbits will be grateful. We need one for the chickens too but right now we just haul water out to them a couple times a day.
Larry is an outside kind of guy, no question. He spent almost all day yesterday cleaning out the old chicken house and spreading the bedding/manure on the garden he plans to use for tomatoes and corn next year. And he has been busily keeping the fireplace in wood, which is certainly a pleasure for all of us. If there was just some way to get that wood in without opening a door...
Right now we are cozy and warm, and guess what? The doors gave been closed for 20 minutes!
Beautiful photos! I love hot chocolate in cold weather. Very heartwarming atmosphere in your post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove Ellie’s birthday outfit! Keep warm!
ReplyDeleteHope that hummingbird survives. We awoke to overnight snow which continued off and on all day. Tonight we gathered on the green where there's a community lighted tree and sang Holiday songs. Someone brought their portable firepit to add some warmth. It was a nice turnout.
ReplyDeleteWe’re having very cold weather here, too, so I stayed in all day. But I didn’t have anywhere fun to go to like a birthday party. 😀
ReplyDeleteWe visit JR’s every time we are in Parkersburg. My uncle stopped there every morning for years on his way to work. The maple bear claws are my favorite.
Winter makes a lot more work for those with animals to care for. I hope that hummingbird makes it through the cold.
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a wood thing in their garage that had a door on it. Then inside was another door you could open right next to the fireplace! It was great!
ReplyDeleteGosh...that's bloody cold and so beautiful! Stay warm and enjoy some comfort food.
ReplyDeleteWe are still getting condensate in our gas. We had company for lunch. It was a simple meal, hamburg gravy, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots. I peeled the potatoes but when I turned on the gas, surprise! Tim was not home yet. Lunch was late.
ReplyDeleteBut when the gas goes out, the house cools very quickly and takes forever to warm back up. Unlike you folk, we don't like a warm house at night. We sleep with our bedroom windows slightly open.
I hope you keep us updated on the humming bird. I wonder why he did not leave with the others.
I think you have more cold and snow than we do -- and we have a lot. But it sounds like a good and cozy weekend. Cheers to Larry with the rabbits!
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of snow here, too. And it is remaining cold - minus 16 degrees C right now. The tern “polar vortex” is bandied about all the time these days it seems, a term I doubt I had even heard a few years ago. Keep the door closed and stay warm.
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me of the book: “A Hummingbird in my House: The Story of Squeak.” I read it a long time ago, but she had a hummer overwinter in her house. I forget the details now, but it was a delightful little story.
ReplyDelete...and we have winter whites this morning.
ReplyDeleteI find the first photo stunning. You got a lot of snow. I'm pleased the door stayed closed for 20 minutes!
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice winter snowfall you got.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice winter snowfall you got. But talk of Bluebirds and Hummingbirds seems uneal!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a hummingbird doing that. I hope it makes it through the season.
ReplyDelete