The loud rat-a-tat-tatting coming from my deck could be heard at the opposite end of the house.  The frigid temperature outside froze the suet into an icy block and the pileated woodpecker was giving it his all to work the peanuts free.

Ever since he found the peanut bell and the suet on my deck in a tray feeder, he's been visiting everyday.  That bright red 'mohawk' that he sports on the top of his head can be seen clear across the yard when he's in the trees so to be able to see this beautiful bird with his brilliant coloring, up close, is a pure joy.

The smaller woodpeckers keep their distance when the big guy is around.  They fly in and land on the snow beneath the table, hoping to catch any flying bits of fat that happen to fall.

The pileated woodpecker is getting used to me watching through the window.  Previously he would fly away when he noticed me but now he glances up and probably thinks "It's her again" and gets back to his business. 

Tonight could very well be the coldest night of November.  It is already 30C on the thermometer.  The high today was -25C.  That did not stop me from heading out for the first snowshoe of the season.  I hadn't planned it that way.  It just happened because the visitor center was not open at Elk Island.

I was getting cabin fever so decided to drive to the park to purchase a duplicate pass.  The cold must have prevented the staff from opening the visitor center.  It was locked up tight so I was not able to get the pass that I needed.  Since I was there and had my snowshoes in the back of the vehicle, I drove to the Amisk Wuche Trail parking lot.  Not a soul was around and not a soul with two legs had been on the trail. There were lots of animal tracks but no human ones.

I bundled up, grabbed the poles and donned the snowshoes.  The snow was at least 10 inches deep.  When one is breaking trail, it takes extra effort to make it through.  I made it up to the first boardwalk and then turned around.  I had the appropriate outerwear but not the appropriate socks so my feet were beginning to get cold.

The trail was beautiful.  The crooks of the branches held onto the fluffy snow.  Tree stumps wore snow caps.  The sky was cloudless and the sun was shining.  It was a winter wonderland indeed.

When I got home, I was entertained by all my feathered and fur friends in the backyard.  There was a feeding frenzy at the grain dish as well as the bird

feeders.  I had downy, hairy and pileated woodpeckers at the feeder on the deck.  It contains sunflower seeds, suet and the remains of a peanut bell.  The small woodpeckers enjoy the suet but the pileated goes after the peanuts.  I also had white breasted nuthatches, black-capped chickadees, magpies and pine grosbeaks at the bird feeders.  

The grain dish for the deer was busy as well.  The usual visitors did not come.  I had new ones!  Three different white tail bucks came into the yard.  All had different sizes of antlers.  What fun it was to observe them!  I think I'll have to stockpile the grain for the winter.  I fill the dish 2-3 times per day depending if I'm at home.

The day was cold but it was beautiful.  It started with a trip to the mailbox.  Nobody was out and about.  The air was fresh and crisp.  The snow crunched under my boots.  The sun was shining, making the snow sparkle.  The birds called from the tree tops.  

I got to spend time outside and now will enjoy some time inside, in front of the fireplace with a warm drink.  I love winter!

The snow finally stopped falling in the mid-afternoon today.  Between 9pm last night and 9am this morning, about 8 inches of snow fell.  I couldn't tell where the deck steps were.  All this snow gave me a work out to keep up with the shoveling.  Don't get me wrong, I love shoveling.  There is a real feeling of satisfaction when I get to the end of the driveway and see the high banks on either side.

All the bird feeders were wearing 'marshmallow' hats.  The tray feeders were so full of snow that there was no way for the grosbeaks to get at their seeds.  They were perched in the tree branches while I cleared the snow and refilled the feeders.  As soon as I moved away, they swooped down and feasted all day.

I measured the snow on the picnic table.  There was 29cm.  When the snow stopped falling there was about 31cm.  The grain dish for the deer was buried.  I found it in the middle of the yard, refilled it and moved it closer to a path that I cleared out.  It confused the deer that visited today.

Two fawns came in and were very anxious about approaching the dish.  A while later a buck, two does and a fawn came in.  They were all hesitant about approaching the dish as well. 

The does did not like each other.  One chased the other.  I found out why a few minutes later.  The buck that came in earlier in the day waited in the wings.  He had his eye on the aggressive doe.  He jumped the fence and came after her but she was too fast.  She took off in the opposite direction and jumped the fence.  He was right behind her.  She played 'hard to get' as she raced between the trees with the buck in hot pursuit.  

Good thing they took off into the trees.  I saw enough action in the backyard today without being witness to his booty call.

The snow started falling and it has not stopped.  It began with fine flakes that swirled around in the gusting wind this morning.  When the wind let up this afternoon, the flakes were bigger.  They just kept coming down.

I lost count but I think I shoveled the driveway five times today.  There were no snowbanks this morning but they are four feet tall now.  I may have to shovel one more time today.

 
The grain dish for the deer and the bird feeders kept filling with snow.  Each time that I went out to shovel, I had to empty out the dish and the feeders so my feathered and furry friends could eat.

I'm going to take my skis out on the trails tomorrow.  There's enough snow for skiing and snowshoeing.  Winter fun is finally here!

I found 6 deer in the backyard when I pulled into the driveway.  As I got closer to the garage, their white tails went up and they 'high-tailed' it to the bush.

I made the rounds; filling all the feeders and the grain dish.  The pileated woodpecker must have been back on the deck.  The peanut bells were laying on the deck in pieces.  I can't imagine any of the other birds having the strength to move them.  

Waiting for the big snow.

There is a winter storm on the way with a heavy snowfall warning.  I'm not cheering yet because the last time there was a warning, there was only about an inch of snow.  Just in case it should happen, my 'measuring dino' is waiting on the deck rail. 

What a fabulous run of weather we are having.  It's November 24th and melting.  Too bad it's melting the snow that I need for skiing.  The perfect world would have the warm temperature and lots of snow that would not melt.  I'm a dreamer.

The sun was shining this morning when a doe and two fawns came into the yard.  I love watching as they feed at the grain dish.  We have a 'mutual' understanding.  I fill the dish and they leave my shrubs alone; no munching.  So far that little arrangement has been working.

 

When the snow stopped falling this morning, the sun came out.  There was about four inches of snow on the driveway.  I'm really hoping that a bit more will fall and that the temperature will hold so I can get my skis dusted off on Friday.

The birds and the deer appeared to love the sun's rays.  All the feathered friends came flying down from the treetops and a couple fawns came in to eat.  Both were very skittish, watching the forest as if someone or something was after them.

The woodpeckers and the blue jays have demolished the peanut bells that I had on the deck.  I'm going to find a recipe of my own because I think they will be going through a lot of them over the winter.

What a difference a few days make.  It went from having to plug in the vehicle overnight to melting in a matter of days.  The hoar frost crystals and all the snow melted; leaving only patches of water covered packed snow which eventually froze over again.  The fresh snow on top of that made for some treacherous walking conditions.  The light rain shower that came over before things froze up added a nice icy glaze to the deck boards.

Big lazy snowflakes fell all day today.  The tree branches are covered again and there's almost enough snow for some x-country skiing.  We had the little people skis out this afternoon for the first time this season.  It was a little slippery in patches but fun none the less.

When we went inside to warm up, as we sat at the kitchen table, the birds entertained us.  A pileated woodpecker landed on the deck railing.  It moved its head from side to side, watching us through the window.  A number of moments passed before it hopped down from the railing to begin the excavating on the peanut bell.  

The bluejays were annoyed that someone larger than them took over the feeding station.  They flew in and landed on the railing with hopes that the woodpecker would leave but it remained.  The entertainment lasted for about 15 minutes.  What fun!

The deer came into the yard a couple of times through the day.  Their coats were covered in snow.  My grand-daughter thought it quite funny when I mentioned that Bambi needed a winter jacket.  "Gramma, Bambi has fur!"

The snow was still falling this evening.  Some snow removal will need to be done in the morning.  I'm hoping that we can take our skis over to the ball diamond for a quick little jaunt before work.

What a difference a week makes.  Last week the overnight temperatures dipped to -27C.  Last night it was +3C.  It looks to be more seasonal for the next few days but still no snow in the forecast.  I'm getting impatient.

The closest thing that I had to snow was the 'shower' of hoar frost ice crystals from the tree branches yesterday.  It didn't take much of a wind gust to loosen them; sending the white sparkling flakes to the ground.

There won't be a white frosty wonderland when the sun comes up this morning.  I glanced out to the deck and the snow on the deck railing was melting which should make for some slippery conditions on any snow-packed surfaces.

 

 

Fog was beginning to roll in last night as I was driving home from work.  Some areas had no fog yet in some areas it was difficult to see the lines on the road.  It was settling in the yard so I knew everything would be coated in white this morning.

The sky was cloudless so when the sun came up the ice crystals sparkled like diamonds.  The tree branches were coated with a thick blanket of white.  The grasses had delicate icy flakes hanging from each stem.  Each wire on the fence was encrusted.


The birds were beginning to wake as the sun was coming up.  They flew into the tree branches, sending a shower of frost to the ground.  It was so quiet that I could hear it release from the leaves.

I had to spend time in the yard, taking in the frosty beauty before the sun's rays warmed the branches and melted the crystals.  The fog makes for difficult driving but it creates such beauty in the morning.





 

Lazy snowflakes were falling this morning.  I went out to fill the feeders that the deer emptied overnight.  When I opened the garage door, I noticed that the squirrel helped himself to breakfast.  It ripped open the plastic, chewed up the paper wrapper and nibbled on the extra peanut bell that I had stored on a shelf.

I filled the deer dish first.  There is one fawn that is an outcast from the 'herd' that visits my yard.  When it tries to come in with the group, it gets stomped on and chased.  It looks like it has figured out that it can feed in peace if it watches when I fill the dish.  This morning it came into the yard when I was still out there filling the bird feeders.  As it ate, it kept looking toward the trees.

There was such an assortment of birds participating in the feeding frenzy.  The grosbeaks were at the tray feeder so the chickadees had to go elsewhere.  The hairy woodpecker arrived and chased the grosbeaks out.  The magpies hopped along the ground, picking up the grain that the deer spilled onto the snow.

It is shaping up to be a great winter for birding in my backyard.

The temperature was warm I should have been hiking today but I couldn't pull myself away from the window seat in my room.  One tray feeder with sunflower seeds is located right outside the window and six pine grosbeaks took turns feeding there all afternoon.  I had one evening grosbeak earlier in the month and have not seen him since.  Today was the first sighting this season for these beauties.  Their bright red feathers added some color to the backyard.

One of the females put on quite the show at the feeder.  She clung onto the rope and hung upside down to feed.  Her feet moved along the rope like a tightrope walker.  The other birds would land on top of the pole and fly down to the tray.  She preferred to perform for me.

The usual feathered friends tried to get to their tray feeder but had not luck.  There was not much room left for the chickadees when five grosbeaks were taking up space in it.

The deer are getting braver and are coming into the yard more often during daylight hours.  I tried an experiment today.  I wanted to see how close I could get.  They watched as I stepped out the door and onto the deck.  They watched as I came down the stairs and turned in their direction.  I managed to get halfway across the yard before they bolted into the trees.

I went out this evening to fill the grain dish one last time.  The wind was gusting and polishing up the icy patches on my driveway.  I heard the rustling of dried willow leaves on the tree next door.  

I'm watching the forecast for more snow.  There is not enough on the ground to go x-country skiing and my skis are collecting dust.

The foggy night made for a beautiful white frosty morning.  Hoar frost crystals covered every tree branch with a sparkling coat.  The scene was Christmas-card perfect.

When I got home from my travels today, I was entertained by the backyard wildlife.  The deer had emptied all the feeders so I refilled them.  The birds were 'waiting in the wings' for more food.  They began swooping in from the tree branches before I had the garage door closed.

The magpies were the most comical.  Instead of eating from the tray feeders, they tried jumping up to grab suet from the feeders or they flew up and grabbed hold of the suet holder.  While they tried to eat, they flapped their wings as their grip loosened from the suet cage.

Downy and hairy woodpeckers visited the deck feeders alongside the black capped chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches.  What fun to watch them peck at the peanut bell!

In the mid-afternoon, the deer began filing into the yard from the forest.  The first to arrive were two bucks and a runty fawn. The bucks shared the food dish but did not allow the little one to come close.  As it tried to feed, the big guys reared up and stomped on it or head-butted it.  When the bucks moved to another feeder, the fawn tried sneaking to eat the grain that fell to the ground around the dish.  The larger of the two bucks charged back to chase the fawn from the yard.

A couple of does and three fawns showed up an hour later.  I had filled the dish when the bucks left so the next group had a good feed.  It's interesting to witness the hierarchy in the herd; the leaders and the followers.  One doe controls them.  She eats first and the others eat what is left.  The second doe and one fawn are skittish and cower when the bossy doe approaches.  If they don't move, she will rear up and try stomping on them.

There is so much daily action in my yard that I am having a difficult time getting my daily chores done.  I love watching the wildlife that visits my yard!

I was listening to talk radio this morning.  The interviewee was asked what the reason was for his longevity.  His response was that he lives in the moment; as do I. 

Each day is a treasure.  Life could take a turn in a direction that you do not want to go.  It could happen in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, month or year.  This is why I embrace each day that the sun rises and sets and why I take notice and marvel at the minutest of things; the crystals sparkling on the branches after a foggy night or the silhouettes of the deer in a moonlit field.

I ventured to Elk Island National Park today for my first hike since the snow fell.  The drive  was beautiful.  The fog last night left crystals that encased the willow branches.  They glistened in the morning light.  The pond along the roadside was covered in a blanket of untouched snow.  

The Amisk Wuche trail was my destination today.  My vehicle was the only one in the parking lot.  The sun was shining.  The air was crisp.  The birds were singing.

I listened to the sounds of the forest as I hiked toward the first boardwalk.  The last time that I was there, the ducks and geese were still swimming in the pond.  Today, a thin layer of ice covered the water.  Large icy crystals decorated the pond surface.  The sun's rays reflected off each one.  The scene was captivating and I admired the natural beauty.  

My favorite area on the trail has massive spruce trees on either side of it.  When I got there I stood beneath the boughs and took a few deep breaths.  My lungs filled with the crisp, frosty air.  I could smell the forest.  There was silence all around until a squirrel chattered in a tree top and a blue jay called from the distance.  Sunlight streamed through the thick branches creating shadows across the trail. 

As I continued around the loop, the snow crunched beneath my boots.  Animal tracks decorated the open snowy spaces.  I spent one glorious hour in Mother Nature's house and loved every minute.