For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning on this very cold winter day! But there is lots of nice hot coffee waiting for everyone, so help yourself and join us for a look at our morning. As usual Muffin is eagerly waiting for you all to show up. Well, that snowstorm which was supposed to hit us must have mainly missed once again, something that seems to be happening regularly this winter. But we got about 4 inches (10cm) of snow all together. We did, however, get the wind and cold from the storm. It was 12F (-11C) when I went out to shovel snow at 7am, then at 8:30am the temp had dropped to 8F (-13C) and it will continue to drop until it hits around -22F (-30C) tonight. It feels so much colder with that wind blowing out there, nearly froze my face in the half hour I was outside.
There is a lot of bird activity this morning, chickadees were first, as usual, and I counted 12 this morning, the most so far this winter. Blue jays were next, followed by Theodore who quickly finished off the sunflower seeds I put out there for the grosbeaks. So I had to go and put out some more, which I don’t mind doing, and now the evening grosbeaks are enjoying their breakfast as well. There is at least 2 dozen of them this morning. They were here yesterday as well, but came later and there was 6 pine grosbeaks with them. I don’t see the pine grosbeaks this morning however, but perhaps they will show up a little later. The redpolls came later yesterday as well getting a good feast going through all the seed shells left behind by the grosbeaks. There is always bits of the sunflower seed left behind in the shells which the redpolls clean up.
Redpolls have a hard time opening the sunflower seeds themselves, so having the grosbeaks around really helps them. Suddenly it is all quiet outside, not a bird in sight, perhaps that shrike is around again. Even the blue jays are not here. I’m wrong, the blue jays have just returned and Jasper is coming running through the trees. I enjoy watching him, he has regular paths along those branches, one for coming, and one for going. But it’s really fun to watch him just running along those branches for no reason, it seems, but just to have fun himself. The grosbeaks and chickadees are back now as well, and the nuthatches. Everything is once again normal at the feeders. Just cold, very cold, but the birds don’t seem to notice. Muffin and I hope you all have a most wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2020 Steve McLeod.
Thanks for the coffee, Steve. It was too cold for me to get out, but thatβs what friends are for ππΈβοΈ
Loved seeing the birds! They are so peaceful.βοΈ
Pass the snow shovel, would you?π₯ΆπΈπ
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Too cold is right and that strong wind is really blowing the snow around too!
Thanks for stopping by, have a great day Renee!ππΊπββ
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It looks as though the snow went south of you. They have blizzard warnings β οΈ… I’m glad im not there to clean the driveway.
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Yes, I noticed on the radar this morning that it dipped a bit to the south and then came up again at Lake Superior. We stayed on the edge instead of being in the middle. We even got some freezing rain overnight! That was just before the temp started going down!π³ππ₯Άπ§
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Im sure the roads will be treacherous…
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Yep, freezing rain and then snow on top, not a good combination.π¬π
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Yes, it’ll be around until spring now. The temps are being forecast to fall over the next few days. Travel will be no fun..
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Yep, the temp is really dropping tonight! We’re already in the -15F range and getting colder!
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Time for those soft comfy wool pa jammas!
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Blankets, lots and lots of blankets!ππΈ
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Those will work too.
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ππππ
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Just got back from a 4 mile walk. The sidewalks around here are being worked on and not completed yet. Makes a bit tough to set a good pace. I think I found a good route finally. I hope they finish the sidewalk in front of my place soon.
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That’s what you get for living in such a warm place. We don’t have to worry about such things this time of year. They have trouble even finding the sidewalks!ππ
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True
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Have to go for a bit, but I’ll be back later.
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Yep, I justfinushed my shower, so let me know when u r back
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You still around?π€
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Getting more round all the time.π
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ππHow can you do that with all that walking?π€π
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I just roll along..
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Singing a song?π€π
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You ckearly haven’t heard me sing… how about humming along??
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That’s the way I do it too. I don’t even like to hear myself sing when I’m all alone. Tried it once, Muffin hid.ππππ
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I tried it and I hid!!
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My Christmas present from Muffin arrived today!π€ΈββοΈπ€ΈββοΈππ»π
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Did she get you a scratching post? She must be tired of you breaking hers all the time
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I haven’t opened it yet, I don’t open my gifts until Christmas morning.
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Ohhh… good idea! Muffin Claus woukd not be happy
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Yep, have to stay good for a couple more days or she might return it.π€π¬πΎ
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And along with it!
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Did you miss a word or two in there?π€
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It appears I forgot about you!
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What else is new?πππ€―π€―
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Ehhh…. not much!π My landlord sent me a text asking if I wanted wine or chocolate as a Christmas gift. What do you think I said?
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Your landlord gives Christmas gifts??π²π²
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It appears! π€
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I’ve never had a landlord like that, they never even give me a Christmas card.πππ
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Awe… that’s too bad..
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Sniff.π₯
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What? Are you chopping up onions?
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I already ate.
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Then why are you crying??
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Your memory is going, we were talking about your landlord giving gifts. Sigh.
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Ohhh…. that’s alright!! No need to cry.. It’s only chocolates π« so I’m sure they didn’t cost too much .π
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Who cares about the cost? It’s the weight that counts!
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Ohhh… I’ve got llenty of weight! You want some??
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I’m already gaining more of that, I’ll have to go on a diet soon.π¬π€ͺ
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Rat’s!! I was hopi g to share…
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Your chocolates?
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My weight!
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Same thing.
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Hey…. easy there you….
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Just trying to help.
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Uh huhπ
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Oh im done eating.. and I did the dishes!!
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Wow, not bad. Did you have take out?
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Yeah, barnyard buzzard!
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Ohh, the good stuff!
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Yep! Good old fried….
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Yum, yum!!
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Yep! Mashed potatoes and gravy with cole slaw!! π
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No French fries?π²π²ππππππ
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No…. although that might not be a bad idea π€
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Why, it’s a fantastic idea!π
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Who said?
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That’s right.
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Oh no you dont!! Not again!!π³π€―π€―
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πππ€£π€£
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πππ
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Got to go, good night Dusty!ππ΄π
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Good Night!
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Maybe I should get you some?
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Memory? It would probably get lost in all that empty space.ππ€―
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Oh no!! I meant Chocolates! But, you are right about 5he extra head room!
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Are you saying I’m a fat head?
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Did I say that?π€π€ hmmm…. I wonder how you got that idea? I meant my own head has extra space.
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I was talking about mine, not yours.π
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You have extra space in you head? They say your brain shrinks as you age… how old are you??
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Yep, every year after 40 you lose 5%.
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Hey… wait a minute… that means I’m out of brain!! You better check that math Mr.!
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Let me check. Hmm, says 5%, I’m getting there myself in a few years.
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So it’s 5% of the 95% every year… not 5% of the 100% you started out with?
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No, no, it’s 5%, starting with 100% and you lose 5% each year. First year you drop to 95%, second year you drop to 91.25% and so on.
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Okay..
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Nope! It’s Christmas! I am being kind and loving towards others!π
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That’s the way to do it!π
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Thanks!
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You’re welcome.
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Okay..
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Okay?
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I said that!π
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That’s what I said.π
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Thanks for telling me!
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You’re welcome.
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Hmmmm…..π€π€π€π€
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Are playing with those fuzzy balls?
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Nope, I was on the phone.
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Get off before you break it!π¬
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That’s a thought.
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No it isn’t! That’s a sentence! I thought of it before I wrote it though.
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See, I was right. Yip, yip, yip!
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No you weren’t! I was! Ya hoooo….
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No, I was, you only said you thought while I thought you said.
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Huh???π€ͺπ€ͺ
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Did you make and eat supper already?
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Yep.
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Im heating mine up now. I’ll be back in a bit.
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Okay.
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What did you get Muffin for Christmas?
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A box full of different kinds of paper, some new toys which she won’t play with after seeing the paper and some special food which she probably won’t like. The paper will be her favorite for sure, it is every year. It’s easy to shop for her at least.πππΈπΈ
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Oh sure then you keep the toys and play with them yourself!
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I especially like the fuzzy balls!
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Oh boy…. π Don’t hurt yoursekf
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I can hit them all over and won’t break anything!
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Exceot you!
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That happens anyway.π
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No kidding!
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Nope, I’m not.
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So the lumps on your head aren’t horns?? Huh?
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You looking for some lumps?
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Naww… I’ve got plenty already!
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Good morning! Thanks for the hot coffee, Steve! βοΈ Also appreciate the update on the various birds, Theodore and Jasper. So nice of you and others to help them with food, especially on a chilly day. Brrrrrrr, βοΈβοΈβοΈ stay warm as possible and have a wonderful day!! π
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Thank you for stopping by Beverly! I’m sure these little critters enjoy getting some help through our long cold winters, makes it a bit easier for them. Have a great day, it’s definitely one of those inside days here!π³π₯Άπ§π§π¨
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Youβre welcome Steve! Yes indeed, on both. π₯Άπ¨. Thanks!
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lots of visitors in your yard today!
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Yes, it’s definitely a busier day! Guess the weather did it. It’s already in the -15F range and getting colder tonight!
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stay warm!
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Not easy to do today!
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On Wednesday, December 23, 2020, Steve`s Country wrote:
> stevescountry posted: ” Good morning on this very cold winter day! But > there is lots of nice hot coffee waiting for everyone, so help yourself and > join us for a look at our morning. As usual Muffin is eagerly waiting for > you all to show up. Well, that snowstorm which was sup” >
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Thanks for stopping by Cathy!ππΊββπ
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Enjoyed the coffee ! And the chit chat…the storm did not reach us…the highways are closed in western Manitoba due to treacherous conditions…stay safe and warm ! βοΈβοΈππ»βοΈβοΈπ
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Yep, the storm decided to go further south. Now it’s just cold. Thanks for stopping by today, have a good night!ππΊππ
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