In The Garden, Mostly!

Some pictures from this past week.

Fog in January!

Just a few days ago a major winter storm was predicted for the east coast of Canada.   To quote the weather people, "It will be the worst winter storm Canada has seen in ten years."   I'm more than pleased to say, it didn't happen although some of the maritime provinces got hit.   Yesterday we had unseasonably warm temperatures, going up to around plus seven.   By yesterday afternoon fog was to be seen.   In January!!

The sky is clear as I look out the window.   Daylight has arrived so it's time to go fill the bird feeders.  The dear crows will soon fly in.  This morning they will feast on raisin and fruit buns that a friend dropped off for them yesterday and a container of dry cat food.   It looks like it's going to be a glorious day.   I'm happy!

Sun shiny Day.

Seems it's been a couple of days of endless work what with the new lot of snow we have.  Yesterday I shoveled the two decks and two sets of steps, then shoveled a path down to the driveway again.   Came inside for a break then went out and did the driveway, that's a big job at least for little old me.   Then knocked icicles off the roof as well as using my new roof rake for the first time to haul snow off the roof.   So this morning after walking up for the mail just after daylight, I knocked more icicles off the roof, front and back and then threw up some ice melt disks, a new thing that's suppose to melt through the ice and make a way for the water to run off.  I have my doubts about it working really, but fingers crossed.   Last winter an ice dam built up on the front causing the water from the melting ice to go under the roof, down the walls and over the floor.   What a mess.  Carpets and linoleum had to be taken up and thrown out. 

 The seed catalogues have started to arrive.   Excitement reigns!  I suppose like every insane gardener, I get so excited looking through them that I have to put them aside in order to settle myself down.  Spring doesn't sound that far off now. 

A flock of Evening Grosbeaks arrived the other day.  Beautiful birds.

I intended on doing some sewing over the winter but the needle on the machine broke.  My machine is an old Singer treadle.  It doesn't use electricity, it works by your foot motion.   I absolutely love it and have been using it for years.  

I'd say it must be near a hundred years old.   Anyway, I got in touch with the Singer Company to see if needles were still available and apparently the answer is yes, so I've ordered some. 

And the last picture is of dear Tommy looking out at the snow and wishing it would disappear.

Sunny Day in January.

I noticed a strange thing happening about two weeks ago.   I feel I'm becoming myself again.   Let me explain......I was under a lot of stress in 2013 with what Roger was going through and didn't really realize it until coming up to Xmas of that year I really noticed it.  I thought I was "tough" enough to get through it unscathed. .  Then leading up to his passing in January 2014, it seemed to have gotten worse.   Coming up to summer I thought things were getting back to normal, still I thought it strange that the gardening which is a big part of my life, didn't really interest me as usual and that I was doing things in the garden by rote really.  Of course I didn't realize this at the time, it's only now that I think about it, that it makes sense.   Now, as I said, I feel more like myself, more optimistic, and not minding the winter as I did last winter when I seemed to just struggle through.   Well, I'm not going to waffle on about it, just to say I feel good.

We had snow night before last so spent a good part of the morning shoveling.  Did the front and back decks and both sets of steps.   Then shoveled down to the driveway.   Honestly, I really enjoyed it. That's not to say that I like winter any better, haha.  Came in for a bit of a break and then decided to shovel out the driveway.   Got half way through that when I saw a friend coming down the road.  My wood man and all round great helper.  He said I figured you'd be out at this, then took the shovel and did the rest of the driveway for me.   Later in the morning I shoveled a path to the bird feeders.   Woke up to -16 this morning.  The fire had gone out so it's just now warming up in here.  Looks like it's going to be a lovely sunny day with temps rising to -7.  I can handle that much better.

Cats haven't been out much.  Tommy, in particular gets frustrated when the cold and snow stops him from going out so he takes it out on my plants, his teddy and the other cats.

The snow.

Woody earlier this week.

And, to end off, one of the cheeky squirrels.

Brrrrrrrr!

-18 degrees last night.  The fire had gone out so it was rather nippy in the house to say the least.  I sometimes envy people who just have to push a button or turn a knob and their house is toasty.  I had all of that for years but eventually chose to move to the country 35 years ago and  now only have a wood stove as my source of heat.   I love it here but don't like the winters.   It can be brutal at times.   I find that the older I get the harder it is on me.   However, it's worth putting up with winter to live in this beautiful area. 

New Years didn't come in with a bang for me.   It never does really.   In bed by eight o'clock as usual and up around four.   I have been spending some time over the holidays on reflection.   A good time for it really.   Two days ago I took down all the decorations.  They had been up long enough and I wanted to get things back to normal.   Now, of course, as happens with crazy gardeners, I'm dreaming of spring and looking through the seed catalogues that have started arriving. 

Jack Frost paid a visit overnight. 

Sunset a few evenings ago.

One wonders how the poor little birds survive.  I do put sunflower seeds and suet blocks out for them so hopefully that helps keep them warm on these cold nights.

The cats are fed up with the winter.  Disgruntled Malachi.

Tommy attacking his teddy.

That's it.  Have to go check on the fire.   I wish you all a wonderful and happy 2015.