A Light Dusting

This winter has been much colder than usual, for our area.  Since the "big snow" described in the last post, we've seen snow twice more.  One morning, on his way out to the car, Donald noticed tiny, icy bits floating down.  They were very, very few, and they didn't stick to anything for very long, but they were there.

Then, earlier this week (Tuesday night/Wednesday morning), we had a light dusting. It was an icy snow, and there wasn't much of it.

'Little Gem' Magnolia:

A light dusting on the roof:

Sago palm:

There were icicles hanging from the roof and cars-- quite an unusual sight around here!

More snow on the shed roof:

Just a dusting here and there, like sugar or sand... But there was enough of it to freeze our gravel pathways together.  When we walked on it, instead of crunching and moving slightly (as the gravel usually does), it stayed still and solid. 

It was so cold on Wednesday-- only barely reaching above freezing, and not for long-- that some of the snow (in the shade) lasted until the next day.  Some of the roads (and bridges, including the busy Bayway, which is part of I-10) were dangerously icy and had to be closed for the day. 

We've been keeping our bird feeders well stocked, and the local birds seem to have appreciated it.  We've seen a variety of little birds (sparrows and...?), doves, cardinals, blue jays-- and even a woodpecker.

I'm not sure what kind of bird this is-- some type of finch?-- but he was eating seed from a swamp sunflower that I'd neglected to pull up.  Made me glad I'd been so lazy this winter. ;o)

The cold weather has been a change of pace; now I'm hoping for more seasonable temperatures so I might feel inclined to get out and do some work before spring starts!

For now, though, I'm content to stay cozy in the house!