Finding Christmas and special memories

At 4pm every evening the mourning doves arrive at the mouse house. I doubt they are very far at any one time but they sure do keep a schedule when it comes to feeding at the feeders. I go out, if I'm home, just before they arrive and leave some fresh seed for them. They love the mixed seed with a few sunflower seeds thrown in. There are usually twelve to sixteen of them that very politely feed together. They have to be my second favorite bird after the charming chickadee. The chickadees are here all day...first to the feeders.

 

Simon seems to have 'gone under' for now. There has been no sign of the little guy for a few days. I also have not seen the hawk since Thursday past. The hawk sat on a branch right above where Simon eats waiting for him. I chased it away cursing it as it lifted off. I then decided to leave the chairs out as a sort of tent for Simon. I'm hoping the little chippy has started his hibernation as it is very cold here today. So cold, that while I stood outside helping the retired-guy with some projects my feet began to freeze and I came in to dig out the winter boots. Now that is cold.

Simon lives under the old pump and feeds on the platform. You can see his front door between two rocks.

My Christmas wreaths light up at night and there are lights along the front gate and fence. It will help to find our drive-way from the road as you can sometimes almost miss it driving home at night. There is a lit wreath for the birds to enjoy just beside their feeders. I can fill it with berries over the winter.

Christmas is showing up everywhere in our neighbourhood. It may seem early to some but I can't help thinking that putting up colourful lights on trees and houses is a way to lift the spirits of people after so many tragedies in the world lately.
You can't help but feel the spirit of Christmas as you take it all in.

Slowly but surely the mouse house is dressing for the season. I have been collecting little foxes as I find them in the shops to put on a small Christmas tree.

"WHAT is this?"

Fox is my family name on my mother's side. My grandmother, who once dressed up her own Christmas tree on this very same piece of land that we now call 'home', was a Fox; Mary Fox. I would so love to have photos of her Christmas tree tucked into the corner of her tiny living-room in the old clapboard house. I still remember how beautiful it always was. Many of the ornaments that hung on the tree were hand-made by her and surrounded by glittering tinsel. There was always an envelope under the tree for each of her twenty-one grand-children with a gift of money inside for us to buy ourselves a special toy. With the envelope was a bag of Christmas candy and chocolate for each of us. And the dining-room table would be a glitter with her china set up for the Christmas feast. It was a wonderful time and now such precious memories.

hugs, Deb