Snow-rollers

The formations you see are called snow rollers. They are created when the temperature rises enough to make the snow packable and then strong winds blow the snow into rolls. The largest ones are about 12-24 inches in diameter. Not sure if we have had these in Ohio in my life time but on Sunday evening they formed all over parts of Ohio in open areas.  These photos were taken by me at Otterbein University and by Andrew at the high school near our house.

Click here for more about the Snow roller invasion

Bluebirds

This has been the coldest winter in Central Ohio in recent memory.  We've been keeping the backyard bird feeders filled and have been rewarded by the appearance of many species of winter birds.  The bluebirds are my favorites and over the weekend we had three pairs at the feeder at one time.  Andrew got some wonderful photos.

Backyard Birds

Not a lot going on. Not enough snow to do anything outside and too cold anyway to do anything outside.  Andrew did take a few neat photos of our backyard birds this weekend. They are pretty entertaining.  He fills the holes in the tree with "bark butter" that we get at Wild Birds Unlimited.  The birds love it.  We have a red shouldered hawk as well. A pair of them have a nest down the street. Every now and then I see one of the take a dive toward the feeder. Haven't seen any evidence of success though.

Lilac Haven's Martin

Martin was born in the first ever litter of French Angoras that we had at Lilac Haven. He was a brother to Angelica and Pixie. He died earlier this week, I suppose of old age as he started to show a physical decline in appearance in the past few months and was not as lively as he had previously been.  He was born in a deep freeze/snow storm in February of 2007 and when I found the kits they were lifeless. Mama Selma had 10 babies, 8 of which I was able to revive and 5 of which lived.  Martin earned two legs toward his grand champion status being favored by the “angora” judges and not so much by the “meat” judges. I liked him all the same as he was a friendly boy and we will miss him. Lilac Haven's Pixie is the only remaining sibling from that litter.   

"God's finger touched him, and he slept."

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sunrise

Not sure what words to use to describe this scene. Magnificent, stunning, breath-taking, etc. all come to mind.  Andrew took this photograph at Schrock Lake in one of our local Metro Parks yesterday morning.  There is just a skim of ice on the lake and the last of the autumn leaves are frozen in it. Of course most of us have heard the old saying "red sky in the morning; sailor take warning".  By noon the weather had whipped up into a fuss and it was pouring down rain for the rest of the day.

Edited to add. On my screen this looks rather pink. It is actually red.  The color has not been altered.

Nolan

Nolan, our Bichon Frise pup-named after baseball legend Nolan Ryan, has arrived and has managed to wiggle his way into all of our hearts within moments of his arrival.  The breeder, who keeps all her dogs in a spotless home with the utmost of tender loving care also raised him on a schedule that matches ours so we have had a seamless transition from her home to ours.  He does wake at 2 am for a pee break but that is to be expected from a small puppy with a small bladder.  So far we have only had one tiny pee potty accident inside and it was our fault for not getting him out soon enough.  He knows to sit at the back door to go out and Andrew has taught him to sit and shake already.  He looks just like Daisy and I am sure that she is smiling down from heaven on us with approval.  For anyone that thinks that all Bichons look alike as puppies I’m here to tell you that they don’t. We are so sad that our Daisy is gone but so happy that Nolan has joined our family and restored some joy to our household. We look forward to many years of fun and adventures with him.  When we got Daisy, Elisha was 8 years old: in May she is graduating from college.  The years in between have suddenly become a blur; change and loss are an inevitable and difficult part of life. So thankful that we have been blessed in countless ways that have given us the strength to rise to these occasions.

“The south moves north, the north moves south- a star is born and a star burns out. The only thing that stays the same is everything changes, everything changes.”

Tracy Lawrence Time Marches On

Happy New Year

 Let us resolve to do the best we can with what we've got. -William Feather

Incoming snow. Two to four inches.