That's us there in the middle and the 'big house' above us

Finally there it was! Snow!

The first day we didn't have a lot and it melted away quickly once the temperature climbed above freezing during the day ...

 

                                      

But the next morning, after a night of 27F (-3C) we woke up to a decent layer .. 'decent' meaning that at least it covered everything in a thin layer:

                        

                                             

It all looks so pretty doesn't it, such a difference with the dreary, dark and muddy colors of most days of winter.

The little oak grove, always a favorite of mine to photograph, looked especially pretty all covered up:

 

I hope the rows of newly planted fir-trees, barely visible in the fields up above, will have no problems with the cold.
The snow will most likely only be beneficial, adding more water when it melts, but the frosty nights might be more of a shock to their young roots.
I guess they'll be OK though since all this will only last a short time, if we may believe the weather-forecast ..

I was surprised to see a new sign already up at out landlord's driveway, replacing the old one of their roofing business:

                                                           
 
My understanding was that those trees have about 5-7 year to go before they can be harvested but I guess it's never too early to get the word out?

On most mornings this week the puddles on my walks were frozen over, I liked how the forces of nature had turned them in a sort of abstract art:

And despite all the cold weather and being covered in snow a couple of times these daffodils are still happily growing ..

Many bulbs will actually not do well without a sufficient cold period so this is just what the doctor ordered.
The snow cover acts as a protective blanket, shielding the emerging foliage from extreme temperature fluctuations and allowing them to continue growing underneath.
Nature .. never seizes to amaze!

Of course 'my' birds are a hungry lot these days.
I hung some suet and placed a small patio table in between the feeders to make it easier for more birds to get their share. Especially the little finches who always get bullied by the blackbirds ..

Good idea, but of course the blackbirds don't stick to the feeders .. sigh!

They are all being watched though! Every now and than I see a fast flash coming down from the trees surrounding the pond and everybody scatters ..
The pic is a little fuzzy (taken through my dirty windows) but I think this is a Red Shouldered Hawk:

                                        

Last but not least, I did some more baking in my new microwave/oven.
The temp still doesn't want to go much past 420F or so, and pre-heating takes quite a while, but for most things that is quite enough and these little cherry hand-pies came out perfectly fine:

          

                                        

Next up: Oat-bread and chocolate chip cookies. 'Should be easy' .. she said. Ha ha!