Delightfully Cold!

When walking this morning, it was 8 degrees out, and the weather station said that the wind chill made it feel like -13. All I know was that it was invigorating! Once again I am indebted to Kathryn, for her knitted hat and scarf kept my head, ears and face from freezing - only a few die-hard joggers were out; no trace of wildlife. (Of course, they had the good sense to stay denned/nested where it was warm!) The sunrise was was greeted with a series of pink and peach bands, and it's currently cloudless and very bright out. The kits have run outside a few times, but keep returning inside for the warmth.

I enjoyed watching a larger flicker show a smaller one how to conform itself so it could eat from the sunflower feeder yesterday afternoon. The larger bird has been availing itself of the seeds as an additive to its' diet for the past 6 months or so. The feeder has very small feeding ledges - it's meant for small birds; the flicker perches on a corner and uses its tail as a brace against the bottom of the feeder, while scooping out sunflower seeds from the ledge with its curved beak and tongue. Yesterday my sight was drawn there because of the unusual amount of, and the soft sounds of, the clucking that was coming from the feeder (the smaller birds sound like small children at recess during school)... And there was the larger flicker showing the smaller - I have no idea whether the smaller bird was a youngster, or a smaller mate - but it was fun to observe!

Today I'm celebrating the birth of Jeffrey Dale Devine. In following his male-descent lineage, he was an Irishman. In following his paternal grandmother's line he was mainly English; following his maternal lineage, he was mainly Dutch and English. If ancient bloodlines can be believed, he was descended from Harold Bluetooth (King of Denmark), Richard (or Rollo) first Duke of Normandy, and Kenneth Mac Alpin (King of Scotland from 843 - 858). With this combination of bloodlines, it means he was directly descended from the Royal British household from Cnut (ruled 1016 - 1035) to Edward III and his son John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster ; and that he is a distant cousin of today's Royalty. Jeff was a loving, generous, kind and giving man - he loved life and adventure, and he partied as hard as his diabetes would let him; and he produced three wonderful children. He is missed.