BOXING DAY STROLL FROM THE HOUSE.

 Bev and Kevin, our daughter and her husband came Christmas Eve and left this afternoon after a great visit.  I went for a little stroll to burn off some of the overindulgence.  Within five minutes I found the Cooper's Hawk.  He flew back into the trees a little bit and I was able to shoot through about a six inch square hole in the branches am happy with my results.  Because he was still so close I was able to get nice sharp images.

Then about another five minutes up the trail I spotted the big deer.  I actually had three encounters with him over the next twenty or so minutes.  I visited with the pansies when I got home.

This is the same willow branch I've been playing with for a couple of weeks.  The pattern keeps evolving but staying strong.

The spider is utilizing the leaves now.

Cooper's Hawk.  Those are raindrops.

Cooper's Hawk.

Four points on each side mule deer.

He heard the buzzer from a phone at the gas company shop and it startled him for a minutes.

Some of our pansies are still looking pretty good.  Not really what one expects to see on December 26.

A FEW FEATHERED FRIENDS.

Cooper's Hawk down the trail from the house.

I threw in my camera when I went to town yesterday morning and spotted this guy not far from home.  They look funny when peering straight at you.

When I came home he had company so I hopped out of the car and crossed the highway to get a couple shots.

After a bit they decided to move along.

Feathered willow leaves which would have been a great perch for the next bird.

Black-capped Chickadee this morning.

Red-breasted Nuthatch this morning on my walk.

OUR FIRST SNOW DAY FOR THIS WINTER.

 I waited for the snow to taper off before going for a walk up to the dam.  I had a few flakes come down but nothing to serious.  The white beauty has already faded and it looks pretty drab this morning.  Rain is forecast to start this afternoon so in a day or two we may be back to bare ground.

Oregon grape.

Flicker.

Pileated Woodpecker.

Willow.

Grass with Vaseux Lake as a background.

South end Vaseux Lake.

North end Vaseux Lake.