Brrrr It is COLD Outside!

I haven't had much time to stitch, but I did work a little bit on my Prairie Schooler Tom Turkey.

Thursday morning dawned clear and cold... 26F!

The Ali-baba fountain was encrusted with icicles.

The Pansies were not very happy either.

On extra-cold days I try to make sure that everyone has plenty to eat and drink.  These Gold-crowned Sparrows waited as I set out cracked corn. The one on the right appears to have sustained an injury to its beak. 

The female Flicker waited in the morning sun, all puffed up against the bitter cold. 

She flew down to have a bit of breakfast... 

...cracked corn and peanuts.

The House Finches also found a bit of sunshine in an effort to warm up.

They are fans of the sunflower seeds.

In the cold of the morning, even  a Nuthatch deigned to come to the feeder for a bite of breakfast. 

Usually they are residents of the forest and shy away from the open areas around the house.

One of the Sharp-shinned Hawks used the Acorn Woodpecker's granary tree as a look-out post.  

When the temperatures drop below freezing, I bring the hummingbird feeders inside once it gets dark.  Then I put them out at daylight so the birds can immediately have an energizing nectar drink to help battle the cold.    

On Wednesday morning this male had already been to the feeder several times and was talking and preening in a Douglas fir tree. 

With the right pose, the sunlight turned the feathers on his head a ruby red.

He chattered up a storm...

..and showed off his feathers.

Thursday night and Friday night were both forecast to have a low of 19F! That's very cold very early in the season for these parts!  I moved some of my plants into the garage for a couple of days, and covered up others with old towels and blankets in an effort to help them battle the extreme cold.  While my greenhouse is not heated per say, I use turn on two 100 watt bulbs on very cold nights.  In the small space they emit enough heat to keep the temperature inside the unit above freezing.