In the mornings, we sit and let the birds entertain us while we eat breakfast. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers come one at a time, rarely together. The female shares the suet block with a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos. There wasn't much left in the suet block and it was soon replaced.
After a couple of days of lying around not feeling well due to a cold, yesterday I planted a few bulbs in pots. I tucked mesh over them, fastening it down well, for the squirrels love to dig up the bulbs and haul them away for their winter use. The cold is on its way out and I'm feeling fine.
This morning young Cora and I went for a little walk. It's brisk out there and windy. We have a "bomb cyclone" just offshore and it's creating quite the storm. All of these weather terms - polar vortex, atmospheric river, bomb cyclone - are ones that seem to have just moved into weather reports, or perhaps I just never noticed before.
The wood ducks are vastly outnumbered by the mallards on the ponds, and Cora eagerly looks for them, and can spot both males and females among the others.
Steel-coloured water, cold and forbidding. Bare branches. Wind gusting. It's almost winter and it feels like it!
Brr I can feel your cold from here too. Glad you are feeling better and that gratin sounds delicious. Yes all the metro logical terms make me laugh too. We have hail in our forecast so it’s definitely a wrap up warm kind of day. B x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and cosy home things. I love onions too. :)
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was your thinking about the weather that caught my attention. We are now heading towards the umpteenth evening and night with stormy winds and heavy snowfall. Faraway in the past are those carefree times when there wasn't a potentially risky weather condition practically every week...
Wishing you a safe and beautiful beginning of winter.
From what I see on the news, home pursuits will be popular with the majority of people on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. "Stay safe" seems like an appropriate greeting to pass along. I see the "cheer" in your pretty pictures even in the last one. The weather terms you mentioned are all fairly new to me too, as are thunder snow, rime ice and freezing fog!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post, each picture a delight. And that Gratin! I must try it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better soon. That recipe sounds delicious (what's not to love with those ingredients?). And your mesh over the bulbs in pots is brilliant and I wish I'd thought of that about two weeks ago. I'm not sure it'll get done now. But I love it. We have our first snow predicted for overnight. Not ready!
ReplyDeleteThe wood duck is a beauty. The squirrel is a great capture too. The gratin looks so good. It may have to be on our menu too.
ReplyDeleteDearest Lorrie,
ReplyDeleteLovely view of birds feeding. We have the same from the bay window area in kitchen and it is such a joy to observe our feathered friends.
That is really comfort food and I only wish I could eat the cheese and whipped cream...
Hugs,
Mariette
That weather of yours is amazing. Shocking.
ReplyDeleteMy son and I were just talking about how they name every weather condition. Well last night we survived the bomb cyclone with just some flickering lights. Hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteYour gratin looks delicious, and is one that I will certainly try, Aren't squirrels clever?! Beautifully chilly photos.
ReplyDeleteYour gratin looks so yummy. I have some mushrooms languishing in the frig, so I know what we're going to make for supper tonight. :) Thanks for the idea! Loved all your photos of life in your corner of the world on this cool November Wednesday.
ReplyDeletePS. I made your recipe tonight for supper. Oh my, we both LOVED it! Thank you for sharing it with us! xo
DeleteHope you feel better soon. We had surprisingly little snow today and it is suddenly cold, no matter as I stay inside for the moment. Your gratin looks excellent.
ReplyDeleteBomb cyclone sounds so alarming. Our kids didn't lose power but our son had a very turbulent airplane landing at Seatac last night. That gratin looks like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the link. Glad you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteWe slept through the storm but on our morning walk we saw lots of downed branches and, of course, leaves everywhere. The onion mushroom gratin sounds tasty and I have everything I need to make it 💗. Good to hear that you're over your cold now. GM
ReplyDeleteIt must have been your "onion energy" that gave me the push to finally get around to roasting mine the next day :-)
ReplyDeleteThat gratin sounds like the best combination of flavors imaginable.
The woodpecker is a very striking bird. I have only seen one once! The duck is gorgeous, no wonder Cora loves them. Another pretty photo of the squirrel among the berries - you really have nature laid on. We seem to have new names for weather events in Australia too. 'Rain bomb 'started a year or so ago, and now they use it whenever there is a heavy storm. I think we always had them, but now it sounds more dramatic. Now I am keen to see an atmospheric river, whatever that is. :)
ReplyDeleteLorrie - glad you are getting over your cold! And thank you for the recipe - I love French Onion Soup, so if this is anything like it, I am in! I have already sent the recipe to my chef! How wonderful that Cora can recognize wildlife. I just attended a two-day climate conference, and one of the speakers mentioned that while young people can recognize 100 brand logos, they cannot recognize 10 plants. We have work to do! Thanks for visiting my blog - it is so comforting to me to know that my blogging friends are still out there, following their "home pursuits"!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect morning!
ReplyDeleteI love the image of the woodpeckers and juncos at the suet block.
That Onion Mushroom Gratin looks so comforting 😋
Stay warm and thanks for sharing!
I always enjoy seeing your photographs.
ReplyDeleteThat gratin looks delicious.
All the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
I always enjoy seeing your photographs.
ReplyDeleteThat gratin looks delicious.
All the best Jan