Just a glimpse

I'm glad we hiked the fields yesterday because at fifty degrees today it would have been too slushy to maneuver. We made good use of the new clear sidewalks, though, and biked to the mailbox for the first time since early November.

We also took to the walking paths. This was Calvin's first Downy Woodpecker sighting. We watched him peck away at the tree for about ten minutes.

We spent some time catching up with neighbors who have also been hibernating for the past few months. We fed the birds and watched them congregate on the feeders right after. We found evidence of both rabbits and deer in our yard. I can't measure in words how much I've missed the comfort of being outdoors: the fresh air, the warming sun, the signs of life all around. When it snows next week I think this will be just enough of a glimpse to keep me smiling until spring.

Tracking

The sun has been out for days, for longer than it seems we've seen it all winter in fact. The Himalayas in our front yard are starting to look more like the rolling landscape of Vermont. My Panda is increasingly disappointed by his habitat loss. The best thing about this weather, aside from the warm sun flooding our front room every evening and Jon getting home before dark, is the hiking situation; with compacted snow covering what will soon be muddy fields there are animal tracks to be found everywhere, and it's warm enough to go looking for them. There's rain lurking around the corner and with rain the opportunity will be lost, so we struck out into the fields today to look for signs of four legged neighbors.

We've been tracking before. Calvin's pretty familiar with the tracks of humans, dogs, and deer and he found lots of deer tracks today.

Deer path through the stream.

And a new treat, raccoon tracks.

And we listened for birds.

Chickadees (we heard all three calls)

And a tufted titmouse.

So now we're ready for the rain threatening the rest of the week, and maybe for a return of the rain boots.

More snow

We've had plenty of it. Calvin is fondly referring to the snow mounded up on either side of our driveway as the Himalayas. A few days ago he was meandering his way along them, and up and down them, and along them, and up and down them, and all the time he was snuffling and snorting and whispering to himself. I asked him what he was doing.

"I'm a panda. I have to find food because most of my homeland is gone."

Snow

It doesn't mean you have to stay inside.

Sledding by the pond.

Snow crater in the backyard.

December 1st

I don't start our Christmas countdown until the 12th, but these guys were so cute hanging out on our snow covered deck this morning that I thought I'd better share.