… with every footstep I did quiver.
Bad ice on the doorstep,
I couldn’t take one more step.
Well, you “get” it, especially those of you that have been dealing with multiple snow/ice storms. Here in Southeast Michigan, round after round of freezing rain, or snow, high winds, a Polar Vortex or two – Mother Nature, you frost me off!
And, speaking of being frosted off, I touted the predicting abilities of Woody the Woodchuck over Punxsutawney Phil in my Groundhog Day post. Woody must have had an off day. I suggest she lie low until Spring arrives!
Somehow the shortest month of the year has become the longest month and it is only half over. My 2025 walking regimen has been almost non-existent. I’ve only been to Council Point Park eleven times this year, a new record low for me. Most of February my driveway was like a skating rink. I used a ten-pound canister of ice-melt pellets to ensure my safe passage along the sidewalk to the garage to run the car.
When some of the driveway ice eventually melted, I still didn’t attempt walking to my favorite nature venue as the two-mile, figure-eight walking path is never plowed, resulting in icy ruts. I usually walk on the snowy grass, but after these last two major dumps of snow this week, first from Winter Storm Iliana Wednesday night, then from Winter Storm Jett this weekend, it may be a while ‘til I return again.
However, I was grateful to get to Council Point Park this past Wednesday. I waited until late afternoon when temps finally climbed above freezing, then I drove there, stayed on the snowy grass and stepped gingerly on the walking path to get to my usual dropping spots. I saw two birds, a female Cardinal, who got extra treats for showing up and she flew down to the ground while I was still there. I also saw a Northern Mockingbird, which was not singing, but perched on a bare Maple tree. Not a single squirrel! As a general rule, in Winter all the critters, furry and feathered, usually forage in the morning, then go up to their respective nests to tuck in until the next day, so I didn’t bother to bring a camera. So they had some surprise treats, which hopefully were not under the snow.
I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this frosty morning, but pickin’s were slim. I usually go to the Park, but had to use the backyard this year. We have a Cooper’s Hawk in the ‘hood, so the House Sparrows and Juncos have been infrequent visitors this year. I submitted five birds, same which went airborne after I entered the backyard with my snow shovel.
Stepping back a month ago.
This walk at Council Point Park was taken Friday, January 17th. I took a ton of photos that day, some which I’ve already shared in this post about feeding the birds (and squirrels).
It was a frosty day and the Mitten State was on the cusp of that Siberian Polar Vortex, but the sun was out – yay for that. The wind was blowing around 25 mph and the walking path was sure NOT inviting. Sure, snow was packed down, but it was icy too.
The parking lot was salted and plowed (as seen below), but why, if the perimeter path is snowy or ice-covered and treacherous? There are no activities at this park in the Winter months.
Yes, without a shadow of a doubt I DESPISE Winter!
I love the long shadows of Winter though. They make for fun and unusual-looking shots. I am already tall (5’9”) but the sun’s angle at mid-day when I took this picture made me look like “Long Tall Sally”. My wavy-looking legs are because I was wearing heavy, sherpa-lined pants and my tall boots pushed them up. I look lopsided and listing to the left due to my critter food bag hanging off my shoulder to take the photo. 🙂
Shadows gave this tree an eerie look with its bare branches displayed on the snowy ground.
In my dozen years of walking at this venue, I know which trees drop their leaves early and which trees have leaves that linger, crumpled and withered, wiggling on spindly stems all Winter. These leaves are “marcescent” which is a term I learned from fellow blogger/walker Barbara Rodgers’ woodsy meanders in North Carolina. It was windy that day and the leaves were rustling in the wind.
Is there anything more desolate than a park bench in the snow? This is the new park bench that replaced the one that was mangled by the destruction last year.
This picnic table will likely not see any action for many months.
The snow gave a pristine look to the shoreline destroyed by heavy machinery last May. Mounds of snow gave a fresh look to the new-normal landscape, but since the shoreline was so bumpy due to all the tree removal and some still-existing stumps, I didn’t dare stray to the edge, lest I fall over.
It was looking a bit bleak here; I wonder if anyone has missed their basketball yet?
As I strolled the shoreline, some ice was beginning to thaw, but snow still covered other areas where the ice was thicker.
The snow did not cover this graffiti, only one of two pops of color I saw that day on my walk.
There was a myriad of animal tracks crossing the snow-covered Creek. I recalled one Winter when I was watching a heron with much trepidation as it tried to traverse the icy Creek. I held my breath, worried it would slip and fall, perhaps breaking one of its spindly legs. There was no snow and it made it – whew! This is that post if you’d like to see the photos of Harry the Heron.
I took photos of some of the animal tracks hoping to identify them through Google Images but I had no luck, so I omitted them.
Last year after the woodsy shoreline area on the opposite side of the Creek was obliterated, there were multiple sightings of coyotes and deer. I mused if either of these critters had crossed the Creek, it might present a photo opportunity, but there were only birds and squirrels present that day.
Does this Eastern Gray Squirrel look like it could use a cup of hot chocolate more than some peanuts? What a sad and Winter-weary look my furry friend was wearing.
I took this picture of the fir tree that resembled the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. You may recall the person that planted it, had placed a solitary red bulb on it at Christmastime. Yes, “less is more” as the expression goes and since then folks have added more decorations.
After trudging around once, it was time to head home. I paused at one of my usual drop-off points, near a memorial tree at the entrance/exit of the Park. Someone placed a poinsettia plant there in early December and it was tipped over 99.9% of the time. The black squirrel who usually hangs out near this tree saw me, but instead of racing over to greet me, it ran up the tree.
This poor baby looked so cold and the gusty winds made its tail lean to the right.
Oddly enough, I needed to coax it down, as if it was wondering “is it worth my while to leave my comfy spot Linda?
Likely the smell of the peanuts that were in my palm lured him down more than any sweet-talk.
I placed a little pile of peanuts beneath the tree once my furry friend was at ground level and it came over and munched happily, double dipping with two peanuts in his mouth, then posing near the poinsettia.
I stepped back and whirled around because I had one more non-nature shot I needed to take.
Tomorrow is Presidents’ Day …
Well, first it was “American Pie” … now it is cherry pie.
If you’re so inclined, it’s the day that you can indulge guilt-free in cherry pie or cherry cordial … for the cause of course. The cause is ‘cuz President George Washington and his wife Martha grew cherries on their Mount Vernon estate and are known for their fondness of “Cherry Bounce” (cherries mixed with brandy).
As to presidents, past or present, you’ll read no political commentary by me here in this forum, except for this mention of Pat Paulsen, (1928 – 1997), a comic who ran for President five times between 1968 and 1996, as a satirical protest against the lack of choices in American politics. (Stat sourced from: Encyclopedia.com).
This city, which was incorporated in 1925, one century ago, has a plaque in City Hall commemorating Paulsen’s visit to Michigan where he kicked off his 1996 Presidential run at Council Point Park . (Um, what did we do before Google?)
Council Point Park, which was established in 1994, named its pavilion after Pat Paulsen.
These were big doin’s back in the day!
Today I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: Frosty.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
I enjoy seeing the snow photos, Linda! Thanks for sharing these with us.
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Thank you TD, I am glad you like the white stuff and I wish I could send some along to you.
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Miss Linda……………………………………..yes I felt chilly looking at all of the snowy park pictures………………………………maybe it’s because I had just came in from the freezing wind…………………………….Guess what this is the first year that I haven’t seen any Robins in the winter here at our apartment complex………………………..and how did you know that you saw a Mocking bird…………………….WOW……………………..that’s cool!!
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Ann Marie – Ugh, freezing rain … just perfect to add onto all the snow and our bitter cold coming tomorrow. I have not seen any Robins at the Park or the neighborhood and I usually see them in Winter. Perhaps they knew better than the Howell Nature Center’s Woody the Woodchuck that it would be a wicked Winter! About five years ago I was at the Park and one of the walkers, who has since passed away, pointed out a gray bird and asked me if I knew what it was. I didn’t. He wasn’t sure either. I took a photo of it, tried to find it online. But Arnie looked at a bird book at home and brought the book back to the Park the next day to show me. I’ve never forgotten that bird or the way it tipped its tail in the air so I recognized it immediately.
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A fun Novela to read, Linda 😉 Seriously, your images are beautiful of the snow but poignant of ones of the lonely park bench and the lost basketball! Someone better have a talk with Punxutawny Phil about its prediction. I’m with you about wanting to be careful walking on snow and ice. It’s tricky at best. I love your shadowy image! The squirrels looked like they enjoyed the peanuts! Our snow is waning for now. Our long range weather forecast shows a warm up of 50F by next weekend! 😳🤪 Hope you are staying warm and dry my friend!
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Ha ha – yes it was long Terri and I even cut some out as I intended to use the tracks in the snow on the Creek had I been able to identify the tracks. Years ago I had some duck or geese footprints in the snow which were very funny to see, but these were not webbed-feet tracks. We’ve not had a Winter like this in several years, but we have very frigid temps for the next 5-7 days and no warm-up in sight. You can put away the snowshoes and break out the scuba flippers! I hope we get a warm-up soon! Same to you Terri!
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Woooo…looks like a very wintry walk, Linda. The black squirrel’s tale blowin’ in the wind was evidence of that. (Sticking with your song lyrics theme!)
I remember Pat Paulson running for president. Quite a different time then in politics, wasn’t it? Nothing as lighthearted as that happening now.
So sorry your walking regimen is curtailed. It won’t be too long before you are once again racking up the miles, I bet.
We are at our son and DIL’s house in Oregon, helping them with their newborn twin girls. Daffodils are up here and 60s are in the forecast for this week. Gives me spring fever!
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Yes, it was a wintry walk Laurie. Many years ago the Park had two machines: one that plowed and one that swept up the snow behind it. It was great, but I’ve not seen them in about a decade. The ice is the worst and I have to walk on some of it – the rest of the time on the snowy grass. I am thinking it is still early enough in the year to recoup my 2025 miles lost thus far … hopefully. Your weather sounds delightful and great for a run if you and Bill get time in between helping out with your twin granddaughter.
Funny you mention the Dylan song because I originally intended to use that picture as a Wordless Wednesday post and a headline: “The answer my friend, (like my tail), is blowin’ in the wind.” I asked myself how many people would “get” that reference, so I didn’t. Great minds think alike!
I remember Pat Paulsen running for President too, but since I never went to Council Point Park until 2013, I never saw him there, but I recall people wearing his campaign buttons. It was a different time and that was something fun.
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Brrrrrr! How funny that Pat Paulsen has a pavilion named after him I always appreciated his droll sense of humor.
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Yes, I thought he was funny too Janis. I have intended to write about his name on the pavilion before and this time it worked in perfectly for President’s Day. A quick Google and I found that plaque at City Hall which I never knew about.
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That squirrel was happy to see you! Nothing like a treat on a cold day. I remember Pat Paulsen. He was quite the character.
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Yes, it was happy. I’ve been there so infrequently, I’m surprised they remember me at all. I’m sure they’ll be in dire straits with many feeders covered in ice/snow the last few weeks. Yes, Pat Paulsen was pretty funny. After all the years of walking here, I finally Googled to find out why his name was on the pavilion.
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Wonderful pics, Linda! 😊 I think you live right around the periphery between where squirrels hibernate for the winter or do not. Squirrel activity around me is very limited. Though we haven’t had huge amounts, i am getting rather tired of the frequency of the snowing.
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Thank you Tom! I did enjoy this long walk, as I had earlier fed a lot of birds, a woodpecker and many squirrels. I wanted to take photos of the snow as well. I’ve not been back with the camera since that day. I don’t believe our squirrels hibernate as they are out and about all Winter, although only in the morning, then up to the nest, so last Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., they were up in their nests already. I understand that in brutally cold weather, they don’t come to the ground at all, but curl up in their nests using each other’s body heat to stay warm. Like you, I am tired of the snow and ice and we’re back to the very cold temperatures Monday through Friday this week.
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I like your photography. Wonderful Snow around the Park photos. I love your shadowy image! The squirrels looked like they enjoyed the peanuts! Our snow is waning for now. I Hope you are staying warm and dry my friend! Tack Care Linda 🙏
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Glad you liked the post Raj.
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This is a full post with interesting things.
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Thank you Anne – I’ll be glad when I can show you some Spring-y things!
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Love the intro! 😀
Drove my Chevy to the levee and the levee was – frozen! 😉
I’m a fellow winter-despiser, but it does have fabulous photo opportunities! Your “Frosty” gallery shows winter in all its stark beauty. It must be hard on the wildlife, and you’re so good to keep them well-fed, Linda.
Interesting to learn about the cherry tradition of President’s Day! We get a jar of brandied cherries every Christmas, 🙂 And I remember Pat Paulsen. He had that hilarious dead-pan delivery. 😀 Too bad he died so young.
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Thank you Debbie – I thought you might like that play on words! I like your contribution too! I could have considered the cement landing like a levee. In the photos you see a cement ledge that covers a storm drain and there is some graffiti on it … well, I always used to mention that cement ledge as the heron stood on it to fish. He’d peer into the water and catch fish from the ledge and the geese and ducks would sun on it and all that made for nice photos. I used to walk down and stand on the ledge and get close-ups of the ducks in Winter on the ice. Now it is not safe to walk there as it is torn up and the drain is all exposed and looks terrible.
Yes, Winter can be beautiful and about five years ago we had a freak snowstorm, maybe nine inches of snow on Veterans Day. The snow was wet and heavy on the bushes and looked beautiful and I took photos and did a post about it I think the same day. It was not that cold and melted within a day.
I feel sorry for the wildlife because I’m diligent about feeding them, but my showing up so sporadically this Winter isn’t good if they are counting on me for food and with sub-zero windchills all week, ice and snow again, no way am I making it there, nor are the squirrels digging up peanuts in the ground, especially with the snow cover. I feel badly for them.
Apparently Washington took this “cherry bounce” treat with him in a canteen wherever he went … and all this time I thought he only ate cherry pie! It sounds good. My mom made a cake where she soaked cherries in kirsch. Was that a Black Forest Cherry Torte? It was a long time ago.
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I would have enjoyed the snowy winter photos more if I were not experiencing them where the outside temp for me is 7 above. Som hot chocolate sounds mighty good at the moment.
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I agree with you JP – enough is enough and our brutal cold weather is here until Sunday. Our real-feel tonight will be -10 to -20. At least you got a break today (or last night) with the holiday, so that was good.
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So far, we have been lucky with barely a breath of snow coming in (touch wood! before I tempt the Fates).
But I love the fresh crispness of a snowy winter day… provided I do not have to step outside or worse DRIVE anywhere.
Your photos are lovely, and while the snow is thick and the air is cold, the bright sun added such a wonderful beautiful to the already stunning wintryscape.
The black squirrel almost looks like he has a mohawk with his tail at that angle 🙂
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You’re lucky to be escaping this wintry weather Ari. We’ve lucked out the last two Winters and had a lovely Autumn 2024, but Winter has been brutal and this week we have another Polar Vortex with bone-chilling weather. I agree with you as to the beauty of Winter if you just look at it and don’t have to deal with it. That poor squirrel looked so cold with the gusty wind blowing his tail to that angle. I am sure the squirrels will run me over next time I get back to see them. 🙂
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I can’t remember the last time I had a piece of cherry pie, but it ranks right up there with mince for me. Hard to beat a good cherry cordial too. As for Council Points plowed parking lot, could it be that people snowshoe or cross-country ski? Seems like a nice venue for that sort of thing. Your part of the country keeps making headlines for the extreme weather. Maybe Phil was right after all!
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Also meant to thank you passing along “marcescent”. I never expected there to be a word for the leaf phenomenon but it’s exactly what we have going on in some of our trees down here in the South. Kept waiting for thee leaves to fall but after every other tree went bare I realized they were never planning to budge in the first place.
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You’re welcome Dave – it was a new word for me which I learned through Barbara’s walks with her husband at North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, NC. It’s amazing to me that those trees never lose their leaves, yet are very much alive come Spring!
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Dave, I’ve had cherry crisp more than I’ve had cherry pie over the years. Hot cherry crisp with ice cream melting on it on a cold day like today was to die for – maybe it’s a good thing that I didn’t follow in my mother’s footsteps as a good cook/baker. You have to try it sometime. My grandmother had a heart condition and she’d say she couldn’t fall asleep as she’d feel her heart pounding, the noise reverberating on the mattress. Her doctor recommended a glass of cherry cordial every night. We’d tease her that she’d sit on the side of the bed with the bottle in one hand and glass in the other, then after her drink, she get under the covers and sleep like a log.
In the 12 years I’ve walked at Council Point Park, I’ve never seen people snowshoe or cross-country ski. It seems like a good idea to be honest. Our weather is just horrible right now with back-to-back snow and ice storms and we’re in the Deep Freeze with real feel temps of -10 to -20 tonight and tomorrow and single digits in the daytime until Sunday. Phil was the smart one this year!
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For the record, cherry cordials in my world are the chocolate-covered liquor-filled candies. I had no idea cherry cordial was also an adult drink! 🙂
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I have had cherry cordials (or chocolate-covered cherries) … do you like them Dave? I haven’t had any in years, but I found them very sweet.
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Hang in there, Linda. Spring’s not far away. We’ve had an abundance of rain here, but only one good snow. Tomorrow is suppose to be our second big one. I loved the photos of the squirrels. I know, that like you, they will be glad when winter exits and spring begins.
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It has been one long Winter this year Rebecca. We have been spoiled with the last two mild Winters, so this one makes up for it. We are in the Deep Freeze now until Sunday with real feels in single digits all week and down to 10-20 below zero tonight (real feel). I am sorry to hear about all your rain and the rain/flooding in Kentucky right how is awful as well. I always think of your beautiful trees submerged in water in Reelfoot Lake when you have lots of rain.
I hope you get some snow to get some pictures and that you only have to look at it and not drive in it for any reason. I feel badly for the squirrels. They were so diligent about burying all those peanuts, but with the snow cover and freezing rain and very cold ground, they’ll never be able to access them. Plus they buried peanuts, then the bulldozer came in late Fall and got rid of the smaller stumps and debris to put down grass seed. I’m hoping Spring arrives soon … we have not even had a January thaw.
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So, no one goes cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at the park in winter?
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No Eilene, I’ve never seen anyone do that in the dozen years I’ve been walking there. It would be a great place to do winter activities like that. The Creek froze over and the schools were closed for MLK Day and the next week I saw someone had shoveled the snow off the icy Creek for skating or maybe playing hockey. I’ve never seen that before. I am sure it was frozen solid as it was after the Siberian Polar Vortex we had.
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I remember the Pat Paulson thing, now that you remind me. It’s been sooooo cold, and very cold today and the next couple days. The snow on Sat/Sun was no fun either. I’m ready for spring. Or at least some moderation in temperatures!
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I seem to remember people around here wearing Pat Paulsen buttons, but I never knew he kicked off his campaign right here in Lincoln Park, so that surprised me. I wasn’t as in tune with the news as I am now I guess. It’s going to be a real feel of -10 to -20 tonight and brutally cold until Sunday. I think Woody the Woodchuck might want to hide as she was dead wrong. Coping with snow/ice and cold is too much. Next Tuesday will be 41 degrees – a heat wave!
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Like Ann Marie, no robins yet this year either. We usually see them the end of January. Our oak tree likes to hang onto its leaves too. As always, love your pictures Linda.
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Funny, you both mentioned no Robins and I saw my first one this Winter this morning. I was checking the downspouts (OMG, filled with ice) after shoveling and a Robin was sitting on the phone wire. I wish I’d have had a camera and I could have waited til today to do my Bird Count and had another bird. Thank you Diane, I’m glad you liked them!
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Great photos Linda, that is a well used park with all the footprints everywhere. 🙂
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Thank you Sandra! It was such a cold day, but one of the few times I’ve gotten to walk there this Winter. With the snow there, it made the area look better where they took down the trees and bushes.
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I have not been doing my daily walks either, stupid winter ! You be careful out there, it’s so easy to slip. We got over 60 cms of snow the last three days in our area (over 2 feet) and just about 3 hours north of me they received over 140 cm (over 5 feet) This is a winter like we used to get in the “olden” days. I need it to leave now though haha
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That is a ton of snow Susan. You’re probably sorry you are not on a trip somewhere warm and away from it all. We have not had that much snow, as much as more ice and now this very brutal cold. Yes, that is the “olden” days how I knew it too. When we lived in Canada, my father had a VW Beetle and when we had big snows, we lived on the curve of our street and the car was covered with snow, like an igloo. I thought we were trending away from the “real Winter” – I guess not.
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Love all those frosty scenes, very pretty, but I can see not always so easy to navigate. I love your black squirrel photos and story. Hooray for a cardinal to come visit that day with you too!
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I tried to get as many frosty scenes as possible Donna. It’s a week tomorrow since I was there. I miss the walking, but it is treacherous on the path. It looks snowy in these photos, but we’ve had freezing rain a few times since then and everything is ice covered (like my driveway). It was a good walk on that day and I fed all the birds and squirrels before taking these pictures. They probably think I’ve abandoned them.
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Ice is the worse. Please do be careful and I am sure you do. I stay constantly aware of ice/snow if I go out. We had a friend slip and fall resulting in a brain injury, it changed his & his wife’s life forever. So sad.
I know the feeling of thinking wildlife feels I abandoned them too. They are creatures of habit, right?! For sure, when they see you again, they will be oh so happy to receive your snackies!
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Donna, walking is such a big part of my life and in the Winter, this is pretty much the only place where I walk, so it feels very strange to not be doing these favorite things. We may have a bit of a warm-up (to 31 degrees) on Sunday, so I might try to get down there – we’re getting more snow Monday, so it might be my only window then for a while. That is very sad about your friend – their lives changed forever. My neighbor fell on the ice in his driveway last week and fell on his back. I used to be a little more daring, but not with this ice and this bitter cold (again this morning with the negative wind chill). You are right – they will be happy to see me. 🙂
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You must have a severe case of cabin fever by now! That path does look very icy. Love your very long winter shadow — I miss those long dark sharp shadows on the bright white snow up north there. 🙂 Your marcescent tree looks like an oak, the other tree besides the beeches that hang on to their leaves like that. Great captures, Linda! Can you imagine how cold that metal on the park bench would feel??? I love the picture of the animal tracks on the snow covered creek ice. The squirrel is so puffed up, keeping himself nice and warm, with his little paws tucked in. The black squirrel looked like he was having more difficulty staying out of the wind chill. That’s a cute picture of him with the poinsettia. It must have felt good to get out in the fresh air and sunlight, even if it was so cold!
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It’s been a week today since I’ve walked Barbara and, on that day I drove to the Park as it was clear and the car needed a run, just before last Wednesday night’s snow/ice storm. My walking regimen has been abysmal in 2025, so I’m looking forward to better weather.
That Oak tree is amazing that it keeps about 75% of its leaves and it’s always been that way.
It must be horribly cold on that park bench – cold and bleak all around. The sun out that day made all the difference in the world. I do wish the animal tracks would have been more clear but they came out dark and too far away as I didn’t want to walk off the edge – it’s difficult to tell what is solid footing at the shoreline now. I almost made that gray squirrel my header image – it looked so forlorn and cold sitting up high, but so darn cute.
That wind was gusting about 25 mph that day, so the black squirrel looked like his tail was listing to one side – poor thing. I was happy he finally went to ground level and sat near the the poinsettia. It was good to be out Barbara – I do miss my daily walks and trips to the Park and all the days seem to run together now. The sun does put you in a better frame of mind doesn’t it?
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I like your observation about the new park bench in the snow. ‘Tis inviting in theory, but dang it looks cold.
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It looks so desolate doesn’t it Ally? Several Winters ago, the old park bench that sat in that same spot, was going to be my go-to spot when a huge male Mute Swan climbed out of the Creek and proceeded to chase me. There was a lot of icy ruts around and I worried I could not run away from it. That swan was as tall as me and those wings can really hurt you. I planned to step up onto the bench as it could not attack me there. Then I tossed it some peanuts and it forgot all about me. 🙂
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As much as I love snow, I’m sure it would get tiresome after a while.
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It is getting very old Linda. We are in day three of another Polar Blast with wind chills way below zero (10-12 below for Monday and Tuesday). It’s disheartening as we had a lovely extended Fall and the last two Winters have been so mild and hardly any snow.
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Another Linda here, only I’m in Australia – so all the pictures of snow have me spellbound! Linda xx
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Hi Linda – I imagine if you’ve never seen snow, it would leave you spellbound. In fact, because of climate change, there are many places in the U.S. that never before had snow and now are getting now only small amounts of snow, but up to one foot (30 cm) of snow. And those folks are not equipped to drive in snow … no plows or salting of the streets. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for them. It would be like your country having snow suddenly.
I, myself do not like snow, nor driving in it either. Since I took the bus when I worked in Downtown Detroit and just walked to the bus stop, I never had to drive in the snow, so I never acquired great driving skills in Winter. It is pretty, especially when it is newly fallen before people walk on it, or cars drive over it. The poor squirrels buried their peanuts long ago and the ground is too frozen and snow covered to retrieve them. I give them peanuts and sunflowers seeds all year around and in Winter when I can get there. In the Fall, they’ll eat one, bury one, sometimes as it gets colder – eat one, bury two. I feel badly for them and I’ve not been there since January 12th. Hopefully this Sunday when it finally goes above the freezing mark – we have ice everywhere.
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Wow – so much that feels so foreign! I saw snow as a kid a bit, but only for recreational purposes (a bit of skiing and sledding) – but it was a rare and expensive treat. The idea of it banked up on your car seems bizarre… and yes… inconvenient! Poor squirrels – good thing they have you to look out for them! (We have possums – but they rarely go hungry – it’s just the powerlines that tend to get the poor creatures!) Have a wonderful (chilly) weekend, L xx
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The snow is most beautiful when it is pristine and you can look at it and not deal with it. I like when some bloggers take photos of snowflakes up close … just amazing to see that. We have the occasional squirrel that gets into the electrical wire control wire and meet their same fate. You have a wonderful (warm) weekend too Linda.
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🌞
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Sounds like such harsh weather conditions, yet so beautiful. Snow is such a rarity here, your post really helped to understand what it must be like on a regular basis. I loved your description of snow shadows . Your Peanut gifts seems like they were very much appreciated ❤️
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While the snow is pretty to look at, I will usually make an effort to still go to the Park which is one mile (1.6 kilometers) away. But, every time we have had snow in 2025, it has come with freezing rain which makes it treacherous to walk in. When I worked on site I had no choice, but to brave the icy street to get to the bus stop (not far from me at all – I was lucky), but now, not only am I older, but worry about falling. So, now I think it’s best not to take chances. They are always so excited to see those peanuts Zena. I am hoping to get there soon to get some food to them. They would not be able to dig in the ground under the snow, nor because the ground is so frozen.
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