Tuesday

I am not working today because I don't have a car. My family pooled their resources and gave me an automatic car starter. Today is the day of installation. Pete had offered to loan me his truck but since no calls came in overnight, I declined his offer. About 9 this morning, the school I was at yesterday called and wanted me to come in I was unable to reach Pete so I will sit tight today. We have to go over to Hudson Falls this afternoon to pick up the car as well. I hope I get called for the rest of the week.

Pete and I have started a 1000 piece puzzle on my diniing room table and another one on his table. We have become obsessed with working on the puzzles. He has a separate dining room at his house so the puzzle's presence doesn't upset our ability to sit down to eat. My house is another story. We eat on the coffee table in front of the TV. Small price to pay for an activity that helps us pass the winter. I love doing the one at my house which is a primitive country painting by Grandma Moses.

We went on a snowshoe journey on Sunday. Probably about 4 miles up over the hills and through the woodlands above Hartford. Sometimes we broke trail through deep snow and other times we traveled on snowmobile trails. The snowmobile trails are very wide and well groomed from the traffic. Snowmobiling is a very popular activity in the north country winter. There are miles and miles of marked and mapped trails that link together to form a huge trail system. It is a common occurrence to stop at a gas station where there are a dozen snowmachines also gassing up.

The photos I am posting were taken Sunday on our snowshoe journey. I really like them both. We flushed a flock of Robins deep in the woods. They must be feeding off the numerous Sumac seeds that still cling to the trees. I hadn't seen any all winter until Sunday. At my feeder there are dozens of Goldfinch, Purple finch, Chickadees, Downey Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red bellied Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Juncos and the destruction red squirrel as well as a fat gray squirrel who is a pig. I have noticed kitty tracks all around the deck and the feeders. I guess I know who was killing the birds. I have never seen the sneaky cat. I buy suet from the butcher, cut it in pieces and put it out for the woodpeckers. I wish I could attract a pair of cardinals.

I will make bread today, work on the puzzle and take Bash out to play in the snow. Tomorrow we are supposed to be enveloped in an arctic blast of cold air that will be here into the weekend. During the day it may not get above zero according to the weatherman. I wonder if my southern car will even start in those temps. Will keep you posted.