After two years of lower than average snowfall, this season we are happy to see lots of snow on the ground with more on the way. We rang in the New Year with below zero temperatures and clear skies and glimpses of northern lights. I enjoyed time with our friends and did not try to get photos on that frigid night!
The skiing on groomed trails is wonderful and up until this week, skiing in the hills and backcountry has been marvelous! It made me wish I had some more rugged skis with skins for climbing the hills. A few days ago the temperature warmed over thirty degrees and it felt downright balmy at 34° Fahrenheit. Of course, that sort of ruined the two feet of powder snow, leaving a one inch crust on top of it. It makes it very hard to get around once you are off the beaten path. Even for dogs but Sky seems to manage.
Speaking of dogs, Luna had to have surgery last week to remove a cracked tooth and an unusual growth on her side. The growth is benign so we can quit worrying about that. Whew. She has had to be less active and is missing her dog friends and skiing at Big Valley but the stitches need to time to heal. Hopefully in another week or so she can resume her regular fun activities.
Winters can be hard on the native birds so we put out black oil sunflower seeds, nyger seeds and suet for the songbirds. That also attracts raptors like hawks and kestrels who might try to take advantage of the situation. We figure that they all need to eat and are happy to see the diversity of species.
Frost on the snow
We’ve grown a few pretty impressive icicles!
Classic skiing above Pearrygin lake
So nice to be among live ponderosa pines!
More new Snow
Sometimes Sky has a hard time finding sticks with all this snow cover
Sky normally sits up straighter than that.
When will we get cookies?
Common Redpoll and American Goldfinch
This American Kestrel is pretty efficient at hunting Mourning Doves
Female juvenile Northern Goshawk
She’s probably hitting the Mourning Doves pretty hard too.
My Everyday Photos 