winter wonderland

It got cold!  Frosty windows, frozen ground.

Then, the unbelievable.  We had snow!  Just an inch, but...snow!!

Birds swarmed the feeders...

...and called from tree branches, seemingly impervious to the snow.

Our turkeys came out to play.

They left perfectly-formed arrow tracks in the snow.

Squirrels were out, digging up caches...

...and leaving their marks as well.

Some not-so-wild animals had fun, too!

The snow only lasted a day, but the cold persisted for a little while.  We saw beautiful ice at Lake Conestee this past weekend.

It really reflected the blue of the sky in places.

Air bubbles trapped under the ice!  A rare sight in South Carolina. 

The snow was melted by then, except in a few deep shady places, where heavy frost could also be seen.  I love it!

And, in keeping with the 'snow' theme, I made a simple chocolate loaf cake for a friend passing through town, covered only with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

It's Smitten Kitchen's Everyday Chocolate Cake and so good...one bowl, no fuss, and lovely velvety texture and deep chocolate flavor.  Perfect for a chilly January day.

Have a great week! 

In Like a Lamb...

It's 58 degrees today, and there's something distinctly springlike in the air.  Outside, bulbs are sprouting all over the yard.

Even the weeds are greening up!  This accursed ground weed that I fear will never be eradicated...

...and is this not the biggest thistle you've ever seen?  It's huge, maybe two feet across!

 The Helleborus have been up for a while...the white ones a little worse for wear because of the ice, but the pink varieties still vibrant.

I was absolutely delighted to lean in and hear a familiar sound.  The bees are back and gathering pollen!  I hunkered down to watch for a few minutes.  They were very aware of my presence, and somewhat cranky about it, but I was able to get a few shots.

Look at those pollen packets!

I've been enjoying the increased presence of birds lately, too, and have captured a few of my favorites.  The Eastern Towhee, with the most beautiful song...

 The Carolina Wren:

A Thrush:

Mockingbird:

Many Cardinals:

Goldfinches, too, who lose their color a bit in the winter:

Even the shy grey squirrels are suddenly everywhere, but mainly at our feeders.

They are even bold enough to chide me for interrupting...from a safe distance, of course!

Hope you're seeing a little bit of spring, too.  Have a great week!