Will Winter Ever Release Wisconsin ?

Another Day Of -9 Degrees Below Zero

This large deer is cutting across the back hill to get to the woods.

      Many deer come through at dusk, traveling through our land to get to the back area on our 21 acres.  It is amazing how they survive in this bitter cold but we missed the many blizzard's and 12 inch snowfalls that the center of United States got. So there is a lot more food available for them this winter, compared to the deep snow we had last year when the deer were terribly skinny.

These two stopped to eat closer to our home.  Our large Airedale's
barking usually keeps them from coming too close.

It was -9 degrees below zero again this morning.  One benefit is we have the warm bright sun shinning in our  many large windows, and it actually saves on heating bills.  We have electric heat here, it is also a benefit, because many gas users had to scramble to find sources to buy from up in Northern Wisconsin.

    

 Because Ashma keeps me inside during the bitter cold  Dick has been doing chores down in the horse barn and the chicken areas.  He never gets sick and loves the cold.  He would stay outside all day if he could.   

Looking Down From The House At The Barn Area And The Chicken Coop

    Not being able to breath in the bitter cold, staying inside is my only option.   I spend many hours keeping busy with writing my first book, quilting, and this winter I got out many, (24) old photo books to look through and search out pictures.  Putting some on flash drive to save by scanning the picture and transferring it to computer, then to flash drive.  That's a first for me because I usually save it on disks.  Good to make this old mind learn something new.  

     Actually it was easy.  First scan the photograph on my HP  Photosmart 6520 printer which has a copy devise on top.  There is a computer in it that tells you all kinds of things like ink is low, gets almost frantic when I ignore it and use up the ink to the last drop :)  It told me how to do everything step by step with the scanning devise.

Picture shows scanner open with picture facing down.  Closing
the top lid, and pushing scan on the little computer in front of machine,
brings up the directions that lead me to putting it on my computer.

      Then I tapped it where it said computer and low and behold there it came up on my screen with lots more good advice.

My computer with screen which has the beginning of this blog
on it.

       I cannot tell you it was easy to figure that part out.  I got a new Windows 7 professional mother board with office professionaly as an extra.  My what an advanced set up it is compared to my old windows xp.  :)

But with lots of trials and tribulation this old brain figured it out and BINGO  got the picture off the computer into the flash drive which was plugged into my computer mother board before I even started with it all.  I have transferred hundreds and hundreds pictures the past week or more.  I use the Windows Photo Gallery on the computer which has oodles of advice on  it to get all the stuff done on the pictures.  I did a lot of cropping of the photos, which were saved to the portable flash drive.  Took lots of tryouts till I got what I wanted but went so easy with the rest of numerous pictures!

  

My mother board of  my computer's lower half with the
 orange flash drive
plugged into it.  

      Besides working on the many photo albums I also take hundreds of pictures of nature through my many windows because I cannot go out in the sub zero weather.  Luke our Airedale dog also is confined inside,  he just got a haircut and ends us shivering out there.  His potty breaks have to be fast or his feet get so cold.  He is constantly looking out the windows and when he starts to wine or bark I go for my camera.  There is usually deer out there or a rabbit, cat, etc to take picture of. The tri-pod is always ready which shows in the picture below.   Of course the camera is not in there, it is in my hands taking the picture.  :)   

Quilting is another of my loves!  I do mostly hand stitching for my quilts.  There is something about having that quilt on my lap and experience it getting bigger and forming into what I dreamed it to be.  

I made my son and his bride a King size quilt all hand pieced and quilted for their wedding.  But....  it took me 10 years to finish.  I told them I sure was glad they stayed married all that time so I could finely give them their wedding present!  The picture of the quilt I am working on was started way....back in the 1980's.  My mom stitched some of the Gramma's Flower Garden octagons, and I did the rest.  It sat for a few years in my quilting area waiting to get the edges finished.  I was not sure what I wanted to do with them.  I did not want the uneven edges to finish it off.  Did not want to put a boarder on it, and this year I finely decided to make a pattern for the uneven edge and fill it in to make it straight.  

Streight edge after filling in with small peaces.

Picture of the uneven edge and the pattern and piece I made
to fit in.  When I get finished sewing them in all by hand it
will give me a nice straight edge to bind.  I will use just a very
light batting, because it will be used for a summer covering.
When that is all done, it will have to go on the wooden quilt stand
which will be set up in the living room (no other spot big enough).
The finishing step would be the hand quilting along each octagon.
Emmmmm   might take me another 10 years to do that.  Mean while
I will enjoy touching and looking at the many pieces mom and I made.
Memories floating around much the same as the stitches being placed.

     I loved my mom.  She was such a big influence in my life.  She taught me to enjoy the simple things.  Take life as is.  We had thirteen kids in my family so there was a lot to take.  I think I treasure the most was memories of her quilting.  She did machine quilting and it was usually the star pattern if I can remember right.  My those quilts we all had on our beds sure took a lot of wear and tear.  Just like the life we lived. 

But mom gave us spirituality besides all the stitching to hold us together.  Her eternal hope in all things and not giving up just because it was hard, helped me many times in my own marriage when things got tough.  If I would call her and complain she would say, oh Kate, just bake a nice apple pie and when Dick gets home everything will be good again.  I still chuckle about that....  I soon learnt that it took more than a pie to keep a marriage together.  :)  Mom also did a lot of Rosemal Painting and had a little business selling it all.  She  did lots of flower gardens like I do now.  Homemade baking and cooking always had our home smell so good when entering the doorway.  Mom passed away more than ten years ago, but the memories are as if she still is here with me.  We never loose the spirit of our loved ones.

"I will not withhold My power and My glory from any seeking heart.

They who desire Me, I will surely reward:  I will not fail.

I will fill every longing heart and satisfy every craving soul.

My grace will I pour out as a tumbling waterfall.  

I shall be glorified, and I shall be magnified,

and I shall rejoice in My people, in that day

when they yield themselves fully and freely to Me.  

Yes, when they give themselves utterly to Me and cut loose

from all besides.  Then shall I cast My love about them

as a cloak, and I shall whisper My words in the ears."

Quote from book Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts

Tullips are bought from the store.  Quilted piece was made last year.  

   

Peace My Friends

Remember Spring is almost here.

Love to you and yours!

Kate

Birding In Wisconsin's Harsh Winter

Lots of Action and Color 

Lots of action and color to keep us entertained with many  bird feeders.

With -20 below 0 degrees, snow, ice storms coming through weekly it is important to provide wild areas. Trees, shrubs, Sumac, growing close by to feeders give wildlife not only food, shelter from the winds but also from the wild hawks and predators such as the wild cat that roams our property the past two years.

Not knowing if the cat is a pet or something a city folk threw away last summer.  He was a kitten half grown, now a full grown Tom Cat.  He seems to be a survivor in all that nature throws at him during the winter months.  Way too wild to approach and wise enough not to be caught by other means.  He also visits our barn when we are up to the house and fills up with our barn cat's food.  We have learnt to accept him as part of providence here in our Nature Within.  

We planted an assortment of Pine, Spruce and other evergreens when we first purchased our property.

They too along with seeded out gardens, grasses, and wild areas some might call weedy have given the bird population and deer help in surviving while giving us entrainment.  It gets groomed back come spring. 

Scraping off snow and ice on tray, before filling with Sunflowers
Dick loves Wisconsin Cold and does not mind going out
to keep up with the fast disappearing, fresh feed for the birds.

Metal net feeder draws woodpeckers and Nuthatches,
Chickadees that like to hang on the side while
pulling out seeds.

Keeping This Small Feeder Full 

 This Large Feeder  Needs Filling Every Other Day

Metal Net Feeder Draws Woodpeckers Who Cling To Its Sides
Thistle Feeder Brings Finches Besides Numerous Types of Sparrows
Heated Birdbath Needs Fresh Water Besides Cleaning.

Hawks will swoop in at any time checking for inattentive birds in the area.  The picture of the downy woodpecker and the chickadee  are making a quick escape.  Because we have huge windows the size of a double sliding glass door sometimes they hit the glass.  They sometimes die but more often are only stunned.  Our Airedale barks and howls when he sees them on the deck and we gently gather the bird up into our hand and place it in a cardboard box with a soft terry towel in it.  Preventing it from dieing from the cold while it recuperates which takes about a half hour to an hour.

One day after a hawk attack we found a little downy wood pecker lying on the snow covered deck and brought it in.  Its wing looked broken or twisted.  Knowing nothing about fixing a wing we called our vet who told us to contact the DNR and they referred us to Marty Thompson who is a member of Wanakia Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.  She said we should bring it to her (she lived an hour drive from us) in Richfield, Wi.  She looked the little bird over and said she thought it was not broken but sprained and thought they could help it.  Her web sight is wanakia.mysite.com and telephone 414-803-0388  They are a fantastic group that help rehabilitate wild life and let them go again.

Some days are ordinary like the little chickadee flitting in and out of our view.  The cardinals start showing up around dusk at our feeders.  They are very flighty and seem to wait until the other birds have left for their evening perches.  It is such a welcome sight against the graying sky seeing their bright red at our feeder.
     Deer also start about the same time to show up.  Our doe who has only three legs is again here.  This time she has no yearlings with her.  She is usually with another doe or alone.  She gives me strength and hope just seeing her.  I feel warm and happy that she missed another season of hunting not all that long ago.  This is the third winter  She puts her one front foot ahead of her and then balancing does a funny hop to bring her hind feet up with her next step.  She can even do a hobbling run if fear warns her there is danger.

This pictures shows the three legged deer.  If you look closely
there is only a rough patch where her leg should be.  She most
likely got shot there and survived it all and continues to live,
the third winter we have seen her.  Here she is in the woods
but often she is up in my gardens by the house forging for food.

2 Samuel 22: 7-37

"God is my strength and power,

And He makes my way pefect

He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places.

You have also given me the shield of Salvation;

Your gentleness has made me great.

You enlarged my path under me;

So my feet did not slip."

(20) verse "He delivered me because He 

delighted in me."

Peace to you all

May your burdens lighten

May your tears dry 

Joy fill you everlasting

love and blessings from 

Kate