Cold hiatus

We had snow and cold for several days – -10C cold, and it seems like that’s here a little early.  It’s the kind of cold that you’re not ready for:  don’t have the right coats or sweaters at hand, can’t find the good socks, and it feels horribly bitter and assaulting, even though I know I’ve laughed at much much colder numbers.  You get used to the cold, preferably incrementally, when winter eases in its arrival.

Two years ago today I was pulling carrots. This week I’m wrapping blankets around my beehives to dull the shock of the sudden drop.  It’s “supposed” to warm up again; I was going to give it another week to winterize them.  Hope that’s not a mistake.

Today the cold abated, some of the snow melted, and the bees were actually out of the hives.  Several dead ones outside of Sunflower hive.  The birds are here in droves, already dependent, already the Grosbeaks show up at 7:10 and if the seeds aren’t on the ground, they let me know. 

What’s nice about snow is being able to see tracks.  Loads of little hopping bird feet, their tracks as delicate as threads; squirrels sometimes brooming the snow with their tails; concerning cat prints; and rabbit prints, in multiple sizes, which is nice, because it’s been weeks since I saw a rabbit (I saw a big blimp of one today, well fed).

I realized recently that instead of a non-notable rabbit sighting at least every day, I hadn’t seen any rabbits for some time before the bobcat turned up.  I thought he had wiped them out.  But the tracks say there have been a few survivors.  Mostly little feet. 

The fattest squirrel.  I’m pretty sure he lives in the fire wood.