Spectacular Sunrise

This beautiful sunrise was enough to motivate me to bundle up in my long coat, my hunter's cap, scarf, gloves, and warmest boots. I walked along the length of the harvested cornfield as far as I could. 

The colors in the pictures here do not come close to what I really saw, but still, it looks pretty amazing. 

 By the time I got up past the Little Clinic on the Prairie, the colors were changing dramatically. While the east side had been red and deep blue, the west side was pastel pink and blue. 

But by the time I passed the clinic, the western sky was all a bright orange. 

It was a pretty backdrop for the bare trees. 

A nice way to start the day. 

Just Some Dirty Snow

  

Despite the cold, I have been trying to get out for a morning walk whenever I can. I miss my walks along the beach in southern Texas, and the wonderful things I was able to see each morning. But I am also finding delight in the simple things around me, here in South Dakota. 

I was quite taken this morning by how picturesque dirty snow can be!

 The patterns and the simple earth tones are quite pretty. 
Simple pleasures.

Squirrels at Play

 I have not been feeling well at all, so I appreciate the emotional lift I get from watching the squirrels and birds. 

They are always here to greet me . . .

They bring a smile to my face . . . 

And motivate me to do my morning stretches!

Slip-Sliding Away

"Frozen suet? Again?!?"

This little downy woodpecker doesn't know what to make of it.

But she knows one thing . . .

She doesn't want to share!!!

 

A Bird Smorgasbord

What will it be today?

 A little millet, some cracked corn, a few sunflower seeds? 

Feeding the Squirrels

Some people don't like to feed the squirrels because they think they will scare the birds away. I like feeding squirrels. Unlike some birds, they seem to know that they are being fed by someone. I love it when the squirrels come right up to my sliding glass door and look inside, as if to say, "Why the bare sidewalk? Where are the black sunflower seeds?" They're so cute. 

 

A Visit from a Red-Breasted Nuthatch

I saw my first red-breasted nuthatch today!

Oh! Hello, there!

Good morning to you!

Munching on ice chips on a cold, cold day . . .


I hope I see you again!