Sweet Pups and Snow

We did indeed have a good snow, as well as a bit of ice.  This is the view looking out from our driveway.

The birds have kept me busy making suet and filling feeders.

The pups have had to step gingerly, though today the melting began.

Along with the red roses my Valentine gifted me, we have lantana that we overwintered indoors blooming.

 I did a small amount of mending and sewing.  I've canned vegetable broth and beans I had dried from our garden.  I do sometimes cook them up dried, but it sure is nice to have them ready to use at those times I haven't planned ahead.  There has also been progress  made on the dreaded taxes, which I hope to soon have ready to go, so I can get on to more pleasurable endeavors.

There's a Frog in the Okra

While harvesting okra this morning, I noticed this little guy on one of the plants. He's just left of center; I expect you'll need to doubleclick on the picture to be able to see it. A few minutes later, while gathering basil for a batch of pesto, a hummingbird came & visited the okra flowers. I wasn't fast enough to catch that on camera. I'm a little concerned about the hummingbirds this year. I'm pretty sure I don't usually see them this late. I always miss them when they go, but I hope they leave in time to make it to their winter grounds. Once they leave, I typically take down their feeders, replacing them with homemade suet. Joseph & I were saddened last night by the loss of one of our chickens. I let them out of their pen in the morning, & one didn't show up at roosting time last night. We searched all over, but she vanished. I've been seeing hawks in the area recently, so am thinking one probably made off with her. Living with chickens, you learn to deal with predators, but I've never had one vanish in broad daylight before. Living close to the land makes you more aware of the circle of life, & how precious it is.