I had a close encounter of the woodpecker kind this morning.  I heard its call echo through the neighborhood.  As I tried to determine where it was, it swooped into my yard just above my head.  It flew to the decaying tree stump.  Once it l landed, it realized how close I was and it kept a watchful eye on me as it searched for bugs.  What a beautiful bird!

That old tree stump is seeing a lot of action lately.  The pileated woodpeckers have come regularly in addition to the downy and hairy woodpeckers.  The stump is filled with holes and the bark is beginning to crack and fall off.

By the time I drove in to work, the snow clouds moved in and the flurries began again.  The morning turned dull and grey.  On my route to work, there is a hilly, wide open hay field that I have to pass by.  With the light being what it was this morning, it was difficult to determine where the snowy hills ended and the sky began.  It looked like a barren wasteland. 

A half dozen horses were foraging in the deep snow.  The falling snow was building up on their backs as they pawed at the ground to find the last of the grass hidden beneath the white blanket.  They were the only animals I saw on my travels today until I got home.

My furry, brown eyed visitors showed up this evening.  They are regulars to the yard now and know exactly where to look for their grain.  I think we have developed a mutual understanding; I put the grain out and they leave my shrubs alone.