It started to snow today and we were supposed to get “lake effect snow” which happens when you live near one of the Great Lakes.  The temperature on the area near the lake will keep the snow away from the lakeshore and dump tons of it inland.  Once the lake freezes, then the lakeshore gets more snow.  We’ve had really warm weather so I’m doubting the lake will freeze over this year, so the lake effect will be throwing snow on us every time it snows.

They were predicting a total of about 15″ for us over the last three days and fortunately, we’ve only gotten maybe three inches.  As I’ve gotten older, snow is less and less appealing to me and I’m thrilled when we have little or no snow.  I’m crossing my fingers that this will be a light year for snow.

There is an advantage to a large snow forecast.  We make sure we have all of the essentials, and then I make all kinds of great snow foods, like roast beef and meatloaf and this year I even made a small turkey.  It’s fun to drink hot chocolate and know we don’t have anywhere we need to be.

Last night, a black bear made a visit to my bird feeders and destroyed two of my bigger ones and bent the shepherd’s hooks almost to the ground.  I’ve only seen the bear once, at night, directly behind my house.  I had windows between me and the bear, but honestly, he (or she) was still really scary.  I always worry about letting the dogs outside after a bear sighting, because I never know where he or she is.

Since I am down two bird feeders, I decided to make some out of pinecones, peanut butter and bird seed.  I made a video showing how to do it and although it’s messy, it’s not really difficult to do.  As we speak, I’m watching the small birds sitting on one of the pinecones and having a little breakfast.  I was amazed at how much peanut butter one pinecone could consume, although to be honest, it was a really big pinecone, maybe six inches long.  The best part of this craft is watching the birds have fun with it..

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