Gloomy sky at Skylands yesterday.

Good Morning! We had rain (nearly one inch of the wet stuff) and lots of wind overnight which kept waking me up. The rain has tapered off now from sheets of driving rain to just rain but the trees are still frantically swaying to and fro with the wind, waving their branches around in some kind of native dance known only to trees.

Yesterday I took myself off to Skylands for a walk and also in search of the pileated woodpecker’s nesting box that we saw the last time we were there. But that’s another story for a different day.

The day was mostly gray with some sun peeking through at times. It was kind of strange. Hardly anyone was there. I think I passed one couple walking their dog and another man who was on his cell phone. I thought to myself, is that really necessary when you are out communing with nature to be on the phone? I don’t get it. I walked the lower loop that is mostly woods and outside of the actual park.

The duck pond (which was my intended destination) was partially frozen from the cold nights we’ve been finally having which led to half frozen/half watery reflections. I found them interesting.

I spent quite a bit of time at the pond taking photos, some of which I will be sharing in another post. The rest of my walk was pleasant, if a bit damp and chilly. The only other creatures I saw (besides the couple with the dog and the man with a phone in his ear) were squirrels scurrying through the underbrush, who just flicked their fluffy tails at me and went on about their business. I always find this walk calming and relaxing.

When I got up this morning I checked the weather on AccuWeather as I normally do. And I saw this:

Are you reading the print under the forecast where is says something like “Snowfall Monday night will total 4-8 inches”? A White Christmas? Surely they jest!

Are you in a different time zone?  Saw you posted this at 10:45 and I looked at my clock and it said 10:33.    4-8 inches of snow?  I think we’re only supposed to get a few snow showers, but it likely will not last as yours may not last until Christmas, although we may get a few snow showers ON Christmas.  Hate to burst your bubble, but the weather channel says only a 30% chance of snow for you for tonight.  Guess we’ll see which one is right.  We’re getting the wind and rain today that you got last night.

MONDAY NIGHT, C, not tonight!! We’re supposed to get flurry activity tonight and tomorrow morning but that’s it.

Maybe you’re in an alternate zone because it says 9:45 that it was posted. ?

MONDAY>>>>>

Where is the nesting box???  THAT would explain the awesome shots my friends got of mr. woodpecker himself!

Mags, have your friends seen Mr. Pileated too?? Wonder of wonders! All will be revealed in a following post, but the nesting box is right on the edge of Duck Pond.

Oh!  I think I saw it last time we were there.  Yes, the saw him and got great pics… will look on FB and see if I can find for you.

I love your photos of the partially frozen pond.(both, but especially the 2nd one for reasons unknown to me!) 

The pileated woodpecker is mysterious and majestic (when you get so see one of them.) We have actually seen only a couple of them in our many years of backyard birdwatching, but, wow, do they ever get your attention!

Always wishing for snow for Christmas. We got about 3 inches 2 years ago on Christmas day here in Charlotte, so I don’t have my hopes up——but….....

Bigsis, thanks so much! You know, every one does not see the same, so if the second photo works for you, so be it!

Who know about the snow? Like I said: Surely they jest! Not like I really think it’s going to happen, but one can hope. And dream.

It cracks me up that someone would be on their phone walking through the park. People are so strange about phones. It’s like they can’t stand to be alone.

Great photos of the frozen water.  We are having milder but very wet weather with lots of flooding around the UK. I feel so upset for the people who have lost everything in their homes - there will be so many people not celebrating Christmas this year.

Joyce, thank you! I have not heard about the flooding in the UK. Never a good time of the year to be out of your home. So many people from our Hurricane Sandy are still out of their as well. Very sad.