My colleague the Tortoise Cat signals me when the pans of bird seed and critter foodstuffs we stock out in the yard are running low, and so do the crows. Every year we wait until the first sticky snowfall to put out dishes of seeds and nuts.
During the wind-gusty New Year's Eve night, bunnies chowed down stolidly, then a lone male cardinal arrived for a dignified, deliberate breakfasting, then mini-flocks of small to tiny birds fluttered around the dish and pecked their shares, then several squirrels chased each other away in turn after chowing down with hyper-gusto.
This is one of the best "reality shows" ever.
The New Year's Eve dusting of snow flakes and ice pellets had almost gusted away by morning, then the winds fell calm for a spell.
Today, January 2 -- my natal anniversary -- is gusty again, and with gusto I pretend the winds are blowing all tiresome "old news" away, out of my life and this world, like chaff for the universal recycling plant.
New Year's Day 2012 brought the lightest snow dusting yet with stronger gusting chilling winds.
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A spiny bush sticks out after a light snowfall during an almost snow-free midwinter.
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Feeding birds and critters is a favorite winter holiday tradition, and the best "reality show" for this tortoise cat.
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This squirrel chows down with gusto while watching out for competitors -- and predators.
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Evergreen life is alive and well in Dane County, Wisconsin on New Year's Day 2012.
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Evergreen bushes near our front door were decorated with ice pellets and snow flakes by morning on New Year's Day 2012.
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Will this crow fly through a tower crane on the University of Wisconsin campus?
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