Just when you get your hopes up ...

... winter is back again. I was contemplating the sprouting perennials in my garden this morning, and planning a visit to the nursery for spring blooms. Nothing doing, says the weatherperson, and orders up a winter combo; rain, wind, sleet, finally turning to snow. The worst of it, is that it's not even decent snow; slushy, soggy, drippy stuff, messy to shovel, heavy enough to bend over the little yew that I had just released from its winter bindings, and slippery underfoot, to boot. (Mumble, grumble, whine and mutter; sombody fire that weatherperson!)

On the bright side, the bushtits have discovered my suet cage!

Pincushion.


Isn't he a cutie?

And the varied thrush was back several times today. He (she?) is still very wary; if I so much as get up from my desk, he sees the change in the light and takes off.

A few of my other suet and seed eaters:

A little sparrow.


House finch, in spring duds.


Face-off. "This is my place! My seed bucket! Go away!"


Chickadee. It was so dark by mid-afternoon that I had to use the flash.


First hydrangea leaves. Through my dusty window; it was cold and wet out there.

A few more days until March. Then it will have to be spring, and I'm getting some flowers. Whatever the weather.

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