Cincinnati is having the first huge snow storm in years. (Sunday through Tuesday) At the current moment there are about 12 inches on the ground and still snowing. I saw parents at the grocery store the other day with a 3 year old boy. They had 2 sleds in their basket. I said to them, “Parents excited. Child clueless?” They answered, “Absolutely!” Hoping they are able to get to a sledding hill before the frigid cold moves in. As of this moment there is a Level 2 travel warning: only necessary persons are to travel.

Bird feeders are emptying quickly. Guess we will make a sacrificial stomp to refill them today or maybe tomorrow. All the usual winter birds have been here this morning. Red-bellied woodpecker, slate colored Juncos, Titmouse, sparrows, nuthatch, chickadee, Carolina wren, purple finch, cardinal. No wonder the level is receding rapidly!

The pinwheel seen above (below and left of feeder) is not spinning this morning! Too much snow for that to happen. (see photo below) None of this will melt this week. We are praying we do not get the possible freezing rain today (or any day for that matter)! Temperatures later in the week will drop to near or below zero with more snow possible in about 5 days.

The Slate-colored Juncos were making me laugh this morning. First of all they look to me as if someone held them upside-down by their feet and dipped them into a pot of ink. With the white belly on the white snow they seem improbable at first glance. They are able to hop across the snow pack. When they do, I think of the wind-up toys Bob still likes to buy for the adult children and grandchildren at Christmas.

Have not seen a squirrel or a white-tailed deer today. Guess they are hunkered down and trying to stay warm? Local weather says “Snow continuing. Additional snow accumulations up to three inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.”

I think the little white caps on the solar lights are adorable. DON’T open the sliding glass door!

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!
    Praise him from the skies!
² Praise him, all his angels!
    Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
³ Praise him, sun and moon!
    Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
⁴ Praise him, skies above!
    Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
⁵ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
    for he issued his command, and they came into being.
⁶ He set them in place forever and ever.
    His decree will never be revoked.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,
    wind and weather that obey him,
⁹ mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰ wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
¹¹ kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
¹² young men and young women,
    old men and children.

¹³ Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
    For his name is very great;
    his glory towers over the earth and heaven! Psalm 148:1-13 The Message