Sidewalk Christmas Cheer

My daughter and I lined the walkway with a few of these giant candy canes yesterday. She was concerned Santa wouldn't spot our house because we didn't put lights on the house this year (because of the weather). This will do the trick.

Snow, Rain, Snow!

Our weather pattern has turned to snow, rain, snow...and about an hour after I took this photo last night, back to rain :)

Kitty Indoor Lawnmowers

I am growing a few little containers of wheat grass for winter kitty snacks. As you can see, they're a big hit.

Garden Flag

A seasonal yard decoration. I put this up two weeks ago and just noticed yesterday it was backwards, and with Merry Christmas written on it, it was noticeable. I turned it around.

Back for Seconds

Back for more. Bird-expert friends tell me this is a sharp-shinned hawk. It drops by our backyard bird feeders to catch juncos, finches and sparrows.

I See 21

Bird silhouettes against our colorless skies.

Bird Dinner Party - Robin and Northern Flicker

Lots of tasty bug goodies to be found under the leaves as the snow melts. And geesh. There are still a lot of leaves that should be raked...if the weather cooperates before spring.

Somebody's Watching Me

And this bird patiently waited for a couple of hours outside my office window until I filled the feeder.

Nest of Snow

This was a robin's nest. One they built but never used.

Blue Bowl of Big Snow

Another perspective on our snow storm this week. This is a bird bath.

Goldfinch Dressed for Winter

I refilled the thistle feeder after the big snow storm and it was instantly popular.

House Sparrow Fluffed Up

A little girl sparrow waiting her turn to swoop in for a snack at the platform feeder.

It's a Bird Eat Bird World

Over at BoiseDailyPhoto.com today, I'm featuring a photo of an American Kestrel that was making a racket in the backyard yesterday. This hawk, unsure of the identification, got its picture taken just after capturing an Oregon junco in the front yard yesterday.

Don't Eat Yellow Snow

Hey! My front yard needs a fresh coat of snow, now that it's been "visited."

Tomato Cage Brights

Right before the first big recent snowstorm, we painted the wooden tomato cages bright colors - thinking that would liven things up during the non-growing season.

Snow Blues

Love how the snow coat on the crazy wisteria vines looks blue before sunrise.

House Finch

This super-red house finch caught my eye yesterday at the bird feeder.

Scarecrow Snow

My cute little scarecrow girl got sprinkled with snowflakes yesterday.

Another Garden Freeze-Dried Special

Greek oregano. It's another winter bird snack.

Last Pear Hanging

I don't know how it's survived the wind, but it's the last one left on the tree.

Zinnia Ghosts

It was just a few weeks ago that I was posting all the bright zinnia blooms...I'll leave them up for the winter in case the birds want a snack.

Surprise Salad

This planter was full of salad greens, until one day they were all eaten down to nubs. I moved the pot to a neglect-o-zone and noticed last weekend...somehow, a little bit of salad survived the invasion.

Fruit of the Roses

Rose hips on one of the climbers.

Frozen Dead

That's that. The true end of the gardening season with a no-question-about-it killer frost this past week.

Red Christmas Cactus

This bloom isn't fully open yet...and I don't remember seeing one this red last year. It's welcome anyway!

Yellow Christmas Cactus

And another one popped. The Christmas cactus colors are blooming closer together this year.

Stuffed Candle

A new candle in my favorite candle holder - it's an apple spice "stuffed" candle from Rosy Rings that my mom sent me. Amazingly scented and so pretty with all the leaves, flowers, berries and seeds.

Christmas Cactus Already?

A bright surprise this week...the first blooms on the Christmas cactus plants.

Taking Down Halloween

Putting away the Halloween yard decorations today...

Dried Flowers

It was just a month ago that I was posting a series of zinnias here in full bloom. I will leave this up over the winter in case they make a handy bird snack.

Purple Tomato Cage

Wild colors are coming to the garden beds. I'm painting the wooden tomato cages :)

Daisy Surprise

Cleaning up some garden beds over the weekend - and here was a happy surprise. A curly, fringed "crazy daisy" that somehow survived the recent frosts.

Hail, No Snow Yet

There may be snow in the mountains above town, but here in the valley, the white we've seen has been hail...and frost.

Digging Up Spuds

We dug up a few potatoes from the garden beds to make mashed potatoes this week. There are many more to dig this week!

Tree Show

I'm sure enjoying my neighbor's maple tree this fall.

White Glad

The last set of glads to bloom before the big frost.

Last Blast of Color

This is the last one, and it's already been touched by frost.

Critter Suspicions

I suspect a raccoon has been scoping the area under the deck for a home. I guess if these blocks are moved, we'll know for sure.

Pumpkin Arrangement

My talented friend Karen made this for me :)

Cotoneaster berries

A low-growing shrub in the rose garden.

Squirrel Treats

A few hardened ears of corn were discovered while clearing out the stalks, so we put them out as squirrel treats.

Virginia Creeper Color

I love the mauves and purples on this vine in the fall.

Zinnia Gallery Series - Tiny Light Purple

The last one for show...frost has killed them off. But they're on my planting list against next year!

Zinnia Gallery Series - Mini Pink

A few tiny ones in the mix this year.

Zinnia Gallery Series - Orange Doubler

More zinnia superstars :)

Zinnia Gallery Series - Magenta

Zinnia superstars series continues :)

Zinnia Gallery Series - Purple Fade

Superstar zinnia week :)

Zinnia Gallery Series - Bright Red

Zinnia superstars this week :)

Zinnia Gallery Series - White-Tipped

Superstars in the zinnia patch this week :)

Zinnia Gallery Series - Red/Orange/Tan

Featuring stars from the zinnia patch this week :)