first snow flurries

The pleasant weather has come to an end. We had our first snow flurries yesterday. I finished the mowing on Saturday, which was a beautiful day, just slightly chilly.

The cotoneaster is filled with its burgandy berries, the stellata magnolia has buds that almost look like pussy willow buds, and the pyracantha is holding up well with exceptional amounts of orange berries this year.

I am not sure how they escaped the brown wizening they often get. I haven’t had the time to observe much, but no new birds have shown up. I think I ought to borrow my kid’s binoculars and identify some of the little birds that flit around.

I don’t know when the robins left, but both they and the swallows are now gone for the winter. we didn’t have the huge flocks of starlings that usually invade in the fall. Not that I am complaining.

I wish baking blackbirds in a pie were once more the fashion 😉

I need to buy some mulch now. December is a good time to put it on the roses and renew around the dooryard gardens. Neatens up things for winter, and protects from the harsh winds that are coming.

The winds here can be brutal.

But today is very quiet, and all seems to be restful. The husband and helpers put up the Christmas lights on Saturday, as well. We are on schedule for the holidays.