There's not a cloud in the sky.  It's a beautiful moonlit night.  I saw the silhouettes of deer against the white snow in the open fields on my drive home.  A couple of them were in the ditch; playing chicken with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.  I don't think the driver saw them.  The truck didn't slow at all.  Thankfully, this time, everything turned out okay.  There will be no food for the scavengers in the morning.

The backyard grain dish was empty when I got home.  I filled it this morning but the regular visitors cleaned it out before I left so I refilled it; only to find it empty again.  The snow was trampled which makes me think that there were more deer than usual or they had continued their disagreement from the morning.

The 7 regulars were having a little scrap.  There was some rearing up on hind legs and some stomping happening in the crowd even though there was lots of food for them all.

It was funny to watch how they notice when things change in the yard.  I put some spruce and pine boughs around the tray bird feeder.  The deer noticed them and very cautiously approached it.  One decided to give the boughs a little nibble but did not eat them.

The temperature is warming a bit.  It felt like a heatwave at -25C.  At least it's not -40C something.  I could tell that it had warmed up because the deer were not wearing frost on their eyelashes and coats.

 

The numbers on my thermometer bottom out at -40C.  When I checked the temperature this morning, it was below -40C.  I don't know how much below but it was cold enough for the chickadees to be frosty.

They flew in to feed at the peanut bell while I was having my morning coffee.  Their feathered little heads were covered in frost.  They spent a lengthy time pecking at the peanuts.  The blue jays didn't even scare them off.

I like listening to how different everything sounds when it is really cold out.  The snow crunching under my boots is louder.  The sounds of vehicles on the road are amplified. There are a couple more days of cold temperatures to endure and it looks as though it will level off after that.  I'm hoping to be on the ski trails when my two days off this week arrive.

I really wanted to go x-country skiing today but the temperature hovered at -25C.  That wasn't so bad.  I've been on the trails in that temperature.  It was the windchill that kiboshed that plan today.  The wind brought the temperature down to the high -30Cs.  

There was plenty of action in the backyard to occupy my time.  I made a coffee and sat at the kitchen table watching all the birds come and go.  They were very busy; coming frequently to the suet and peanut bell in front of the window.  The chickadees and downy woodpeckers entertained me for quite some time.  Nuthatches and grosbeaks flew in to the tray feeders.  I filled the feeders in the morning and had to refill in the afternoon.

The deer came for their offerings.  Two young ones showed up first but one was not about to share.  Every time the second one would come close, the other would rear up and try to stomp on her.  When the first two left, the group of seven showed up and they were fighting over food as well.  I wish they would have understood me when I mentioned that  there were two bags of feed in the garage.  I wouldn't let them go hungry in this cold weather.

Since I couldn't spend time on the trails, I decided to go for a drive to Elk Island National Park.  The wind drifted snow across the highway and blew the fluffy snow off the evergreen branches.

I didn't see one bison, elk, moose or deer on the way there.  They must have been hidden from the wind.  Just as I was thinking about how the trip turned out to be a bust, I spied a Great Horned Owl sitting atop a snag beside the highway.  I actually drove passed it until I realized what I had seen.  I backed up with the hope that it was still sitting there and I was lucky enough to get a couple photos of that beauty.  My binoculars were sitting on the kitchen table so there was no up close viewing this time.

As I was driving south along the park way, I noticed some sun dogs in the sky.  I knew that one could see them in very cold weather but I never knew the explanation for them.  I learned something today.  I liked the un-scientific definition the best; light refracting through the 'diamond dust' (ice crystals) which acts like a prism.  For me, they are beautiful winter rainbows.

I can tell that it is going to dip to -30C or lower this evening.  Things are creaking as they contract in the cold.  There is not a cloud in the sky and the moon is almost full.  It's cold out there but it's a beauty of a moonlit winter night.  

 

For a person who loves winter, it was a great beginning to 2015; a heavy snowfall warning!  It was +3C yesterday.  Rain was falling at 3pm.  It eventually turned into snow and the snow fell all night long.  When I woke this morning, there was about 8 inches on the driveway.  It took me about an hour to clear it off, not because of the volume or the temperature but because I missed 'playing' in the fluffy stuff.

The seeds in the tray feeders were covered with mounds of snow.  The chickadees and the grosbeaks were trying their hardest to get at the seeds.  When the shoveling was done, I cleared and refilled all the feeders; including the grain dish for the deer.

It didn't take long for the birds to reappear.  I was excited to see the redpolls back.  I have not seen them for at least 3 years and about a dozen of them flew in and had a feeding frenzy at the feeders.

It didn't take long for the deer to appear either.  I was surprised to see a new buck with a doe come for a visit.  They were not a part of the usual herd that comes to feed.  The doe would try to feed and the buck would take after her.  He kept watching something in the trees.  Each time he went to the fence line, she came in for a few quick bites until he returned.

Shortly after they left, the usual bunch showed up.  There was some aggressive behavior happening with them as well.  I'm wondering if it was the weather.

I couldn't let the new snow go to waste.  The snow plow had not gone through yet but I threw the skis into my vehicle and headed to Cooking Lake - Blackfoot.  I hoped that I did not meet a vehicle coming from the other direction.  It was hard to determine where the road ended and the ditch began.  I was lucky and found myself to be the only one on the road.

It turned out that I was the only one in the parking lot as well.  I noticed that the groomer had been out already.  I put the skis on and enjoyed the peacefulness of the trail.  The only thing I could hear was the sound of the snowflakes hitting the fabric on my jacket.  

I made it half way around on groomed trails.  At the half way point, the groomer set off in the opposite direction from my travels.  I didn't have the proper skis on to break trail so that was a bit challenging.  I had about a quarter of the loop left when I heard the groomer coming up behind me.  As I stepped off to the side, he came by and left me with some awesome tracks back to the parking lot.

When I returned to my vehicle, there were four others there as well.  My timing was impeccable; nobody on the trails and first out on the new set tracks.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

It's New Year's Eve which means time for reflection on the past year.  2014 was a great year and a year of many firsts.

I saw a Great Grey Owl in action for the first time.  It sat atop a fence post, dived into the tall grass and came back to the fence post with an afternoon snack.  What a great moment that was!

The hiking trails at Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation area provided a couple of firsts.  I wandered into a slough area and found two Greater Yellowlegs perched on a log.  That was a fantastic find.  I added them to my birding list.  

During the latter part of August, the garter snakes were gathering, providing me with many opportunities to observe them.  I had previously seen one or two of them but this was a first to see that many gathered together.

My backyard provided a number of firsts.  The garden beds were very productive and 2014 was the first year that I was successful in growing five pumpkins to maturity.  The deer continued to visit through the winter months.  It was the first time that I saw three different bucks come to the food dish; one with a large set of antlers.

Elk Island National Park provided a number of firsts.  I had the opportunity to watch a moose make its way across an open meadow area until it came to within ten feet of my vehicle.  It stopped to drink from a puddle in the ditch while I was snapping portraits.

The beaver at Astotin Lake put on quite the show.  I got to see one take down a tree.  I was so close to it that I could hear the teeth cut through the wood.

I went camping on four separate occasions to the Nordegg area.  During the camp outs, it was the first time that I was caught in a tent in a hailstorm that battered the surroundings with loonie sized hail.  On another trip, it was the first time that I experienced the mild tremor of an earthquake in that area.

The wildlife in this area provide so many firsts.  It may not be the first time that I have seen a particular animal or bird but the situation was a first; like the pileated woodpecker that frequents the backyard but had never landed on my deck rail before.

Nature provides so many opportunities to explore and experience 'firsts'.  We just need to turn off all the devices, take the time to visit the woods,  open our eyes, use all of our senses and tune out the noise of everyday life.  You never know what you will find or what you will experience.  You might get to see the beauty of dew drops on a ladybug or the glistening crystals of hoar frost on a sunny winter morning.  Let the year 2015 be your year of firsts.  Happy New Year!

 
 

I picked up my granddaughters for a couple of sleepover days.  They know that the drive to Gramma's house takes a while so they occupy the drive time by searching for animals along the way.

We didn't see any wildlife on this trip.  On previous occasions we have seen moose, deer, coyotes and a badger.  This time we saw horses and cows.  They did notice the frosty branches on the trees from the fog the evening before.

When I pulled into my driveway, both wondered if the deer were going to be in the yard.  They checked to see if the grain dish was full but came back to say that it needed filling.  After dumping a pail of feed into the dish and topping up the bird feeders we headed inside but not for long.

Both girls have been learning to ice skate.  What fun!  There is small snowbank rink a couple of miles from home and they wanted to go skating after supper.  We packed up the gear and away we went.  After the last time we were there, I picked up a couple of hockey sticks and a puck that they used  between games of 'What time is it Mr. Wolf?" and our favorite 'Going to the Zoo' song.

We didn't have the slider skate trainer.  Both girls are skating on their own and having so much fun!  We spent an hour at the rink and went back to my house for hot chocolate after that.  

While they fished their marshmallows from the drinks, we planned out the next day.  It turned out to be warmer than expected so ended up spending more time than planned in the fresh air.

Last year they took x-country ski lessons at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  It seemed like only yesterday because I strapped their skis on and they took off on the trail like no time had passed.  I thought I would have had to help them get going but they left me behind so I ran to put my skis on and catch up.

We were at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation area trails.  They wanted to go farther than the 'green sign' which signaled the spot that we would turn around so we ventured up to a small hill.  Its gradual grade was perfect for them.  I think both went up and down that hill at least 12 times.

They worked up a thirst so we headed back to the parking lot, grabbed our lunch and found a table in the cookhouse.  We lit a fire in the stove and warmed up while eating.  

They didn't want to leave yet so we put the skis back on and headed back to the hill for another hour.  The temperature was dropping and we skied back to the parking lot.  We decided to see if the park had started making ice at the rink beside the cookhouse.

The area was plowed and a layer of water was put down but it was not ready for skating.  Instead, the girls played on the snowbanks; climbing to the top and sliding down in whatever way worked.  On the way back to my vehicle, we trudged through some deep fluffy snow.  Their little dino-shoes that they got for Christmas were in a bag so the younger of the girls was determined to 'stomp' through the deep snow.  

She did more than stomp, she ran through it.  I'm sure that people wondered what was making the big footprints in the snow.  Sasquatch perhaps?

I thought that 3.5 hours of fresh air fun would have been enough for them.  I needed a coffee and while I was sitting down enjoying it, they brought up the fact that we had not gone skating yet so off to the rink for another hour in the evening.

It's so great to see them enjoy the outdoor activities with such enthusiasm.  They are dressed for the weather and embrace winter and the fresh air.  Participating in skiing, skating and snowshoeing during the winter months will make the season enjoyable and a lot more fun. 

 

December 26 will go down as a memorable outdoor day.  While the Boxing Day shoppers jostled each other for bargains, there were at least two of us that ventured to the trails instead of the mall.

We left home before noon and drove to Elk Island National Park.  It snowed overnight and gave us about 3 inches of fluffiness to walk through on the Amisk Wuche trail.  We were the first ones out that morning.  It was calm and quiet.  In other words it was perfect.

We both had our camera gear along and were hoping for the sun to break through the clouds so we could snap some photos of the frost covered trees along the trail.  The sky did clear and the beauty was amazing.  The branches on the trees were covered in thick hoar frost from the night before.  The sunlight made the frosty crystals sparkle all around us.

There were not many birds out and the only animals on the trail were a mouse and a squirrel but the beauty and the peacefulness was just what we needed.

We had to take advantage of the warm temperature, the sunshine and the fresh snow so after leaving Elk Island we grabbed the cross country skis and headed to the trails at Cooking Lake - Blackfoot recreation area.  

The web reports on the trail conditions said poor but they were wrong.  There was enough snow overnight for some great skiing.  We came across only one icy patch that was a bit treacherous.

We got back to the house in mid-afternoon.  After a few hours of being outside in the fresh air, it was time for some rest on the couch with a good book.  Oh how I love winter!

It was a white Christmas after all.  The snow began falling just before noon and continued throughout the day.  This made for a slow drive back home but I arrived to find a couple of inches on my deck.  At this time, there's 3 inches of snow and it's still falling.  This means only one thing.  I am going skiing tomorrow.  In anticipation, I dug the skis out before driving into the garage.

The deer came for a Christmas feast while I was away.  They emptied their dish as well as all the bird feeders.  They did leave the peanut bell untouched.  I filled their grain dish when I got home as an extra treat just because it is Christmas.

I hope that all those who love the outdoors will have the opportunity to get out and snowshoe, ski, sled, walk, skate or do whatever else you love doing in the fresh air tomorrow.  It will be a great day for it.  It makes me shudder to think of all the pushing and shoving, all of the noise and crowded parking lots that will be happening on Boxing Day.  You won't find me there.  I'll be on the trails, in the forest, listening to the sweet sound of my skis moving across the snow.

Perfect ending to a great day.  Merry Christmas!

Well, it's Christmas Eve.  I was hoping to get to the rink this evening but the wind started gusting on the drive home from work.  The rink is out in the open and I didn't think the time there would have been enjoyable so instead I chose to light up the Christmas tree, pour a glass of wine and watch a Wild Canada dvd.  

The thought was there at least.  The glass of wine was still sitting untouched on the table and the dvd played through without me seeing more than 5 minutes of it.  I'm blaming the plush, snowflake blanket.  Each time I curl up under it, my eyelids close.

When they decided to open, I admired the tree and thought about how all the decorations on it reflect the things that I love in nature.  Birds, snowshoes, skis/poles, skates and deer adorn the branches.  Rustic snowflakes, birch stars/trees and berry garlands/picks can be found on it as well.  I've been collecting those decorations for many years and finally have enough for the entire tree.

The only thing missing this Christmas is snow.  The season started off with a bang.  There were two snowfalls that dumped almost 12 inches of snow each but there were also days that the temperature got to +12C which melted most of it.  

The groomers are struggling to keep some of the x-country ski trails open.  There is not enough snow for snowshoeing and the hiking trails are quite icy and require cleats on the boots.

I checked the weather history to compare last year to this one.  On December 22, 2013 it was -32.6C overnight.  I remember going for a snowshoe outing that day and coming back to my vehicle pretty frosty.  On December 24, 2013 it was -3.1C overnight.  From the sound of things it is not going to be as cold or as warm as last year. 

Whatever the the temperature happens to be, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and has the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the season.

I'm happy to say that the water has stopped flowing into my yard.  When the pump finally finished sucking the water from the basement next door, the flow of water slowed to a minor trickle, then a few drops and finally the sound of silence coming from the sump pit.  I was able to remove my contraption of pipe in the backyard so I no longer have an obstacle course to step over to get to my garage.

The industrial ice melt is working on the driveway.  Good thing because it was and still is a treacherous area to be walking.  I have ice cleats on the bottom of my boots to walk across it.

The yard is an icy mess that will remain until spring.  The deer are staying away from the hanging feeders because they slip and slide on the ice each time they try to come near them.  The ice did not deter them from finding the tray feeder that held the pileated woodpecker's peanut bell and a suet cake.  Both bird treats were gone in the morning and I'm thinking that one of those deer probably had an upset stomach after consuming all that fatty food.

With the water situation finally under control, I'll finally be able to get out to the trails and the local rink more often.  No more being house bound having to watch to make sure the pipes didn't freeze up causing a back up into the basement.

I'm sad to say that I still have not taken out the new skis that I bought last spring.  My ski boots have been sitting in the back closet for a couple of months now, collecting dust.  The snow conditions are not the best but they are good enough for me to try out the skis.  

On my upcoming days off, my granddaughters will be over for a few days.  They are beginners but their skating skills are phenomenal and we will definitely be visiting the rink.  I picked up a couple of hockey sticks for them so I'm sure we'll have lots of fun.  I might just pick one up for myself as well.  That will wait until all the Christmas shopping craziness is finished.  I have no intention of being close to a store for another week or so.