There's a little blast of winter happening outside.  The flurries and the cold wind were reminding us today that winter is still here for another few weeks.  I wonder if the groundhog is going to tell us the same thing on Sunday.

While I was driving home from work, I noticed how much longer the days are.  It was 6pm and light enough that I could have gone for a walk without a flashlight.  I love when the days are longer.  It may be dark when I leave in the morning but it's light when I'm driving home and I love it; all the better to see my forest friends!

My backyard visitors are still cleaning out all the bird feeders.  I had a chuckle on the weekend when I was watching a squirrel.  The layers of snow had melted off the many patches of deer

droppings.  That nutty squirrel was devouring the droppings.  I was thinking that there must have been a lot of sunflower hulls and seeds in them.  I have to admit that it was making me gag to watch.

The deer have been coming into my yard since November 21 and they know immediately when something is different.  I put a pail of water out for my backyard menagerie.  When the deer noticed it for the first time, they put their heads down and circled the pail.  One of the younger ones was brave enough to move closer.  It found the water and has been drinking from the bucket on each visit since.

I'm anxious to see what the five 'amigos' are going to do when spring arrives.  Will they continue to visit my yard when the grasses are tall and green?  If they do, will the does bring their new fawns for a visit?  I sure hope they do.  I would love to see some little, spotted babes in my backyard.