It's a cold new year out there.....

It's a cold blustery day out there today!  Brrrrrrrrrr......

 Some of the home birds looking for some food to keep them warm.

 Lots of Cardinals out there and the males look so good at this time of the year.

 A bunch of the ground feeding birds out in the front yard.

 The Chickadee..dee...dee...

Downy male at the suet 

Junco 

This Mockingbird was doing his best to chase the Starling away....but the Starling won the "Mr. Mean" contest this time around. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker....always a welcome bird at the feeders. 

The Song Sparrow trying to find some little seeds. 

Back end of the Starling, but I liked its feathers 

 Titmouse grabbing a peanut....

....and another one. 

Carolina Wren in the grass. 

White-throated Sparrow 

The photos all look so dreary even after I lightened them up a bit. 

The birds are really hungry in this cold, so I hate to bother them too much.

It's almost Christmas....

Christmas is almost here and I have been busy with many things.  Our snow is finally going away.  The temperature is heading back to the more normal range for us in the winter....40's or 50's.

 The female Cardinal at the feeder out back.

Downy on the suet. 

 A very cold looking Great Blue Heron who happened by one morning.  The pond is frozen, so I doubt it found any food!

Kiwi....the outside cat wondering why she never gets to come in the house like those other cats that live in.  

 Mike has had a lot of fun all year making things with his 3-D printer.  So of course he had to try a few Christmas ornaments for the tree.  Other people post designs they have made and you can download and print them or design your own.  I liked this one with the hole in the star for a light....very clever by someone.
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For anyone wanting to know about the 3-D printer.  Here is a link to a site that shows all the cool stuff that people have made with their 3-D printers.  It is really fascinating!  It's all plastic stuff, for those who can't tell in the photos.

 I finally have finished this little Christmas tree wall hanging I have worked on for months.  Now I have to figure out where to hang it.

 Over the mantle.

 On the hearth...my wood block nativity.

We are very eclectic in our decorating.  The tree has a hodge podge of ornaments that have come from vacations, and as gifts from family and friends, Hallmark animal ornaments, and just things we like.  The white ornaments are some more of Mike's 3-D fun....snowflakes with our names and snowflakes made of StarWars characters and fighters :-) 

As I say....no theme to our tree!

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Merry Christmas everyone!

Lots of snow and cold brings the birds out....

We got blasted with an all day snow storm and low temperatures early in the week.

 A Titmouse and House Sparrow looking for seeds during the storm.

The Blue Jays have shown up and want to know why I didn't buy any peanuts for them.  Be patient....they are on my shopping list for later in the week! 

 Cardinal and Goldfinch looking miserable but finding a few seeds.

The Mockingbird, of course wants it all for himself. 

 On guard....he actually was chasing the other birds away while they tried to eat....mean old thing!

 Song sparrow looking down low for seeds.

 Titmouse.

 Wren sneaking up the vine covered pole.

Wren on the suet.  

The sun is shining today, so maybe I'm get some better photos later on.  I haven't gone out much.  I need new boots!  I've been wearing my old "moon boots" from the 80's and the linings have just about disintegrated to nothing.  They were good warm boots...but totally shot after all these years. Time for an upgrade!

Look out little birds....the hawk in on the prowl.....

Mike noticed all the birds take off and head for the bushes, so he knew the hawk must be around!  Sure enough it landed on the rail after scaring everyone away.  Mike came and got me, and I was thrilled to see that it didn't seem in any hurry to leave.  That provided ample time for photos :-)

 This was my favorite shot.....he turned around and faced my way right before he took off.

 I believe it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  

The smallest of the hawks in this area.  He has been hanging around all summer, which is why I have not had a lot of bird photos.

 Fluffing up

Preening 

 I like how he grabs the feather.

"Do I look better now, for my photos?" 

The turn around.  Looks like ballet!

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My world is in the process of turning white at the moment!  We are suppose to have snow all day long.

 The squirrel got in early to get some food before it was all covered up.

The wren going for the suet. 

 There is no point in my putting much more seed out until the snow stops.

  It is being buried as fast as I put seed out there! 

 A lot of hungry and unhappy birds out there at the moment!  

Probably easy pickings for that hawk today.