Pages

Friday, November 25, 2016

Friday's Hunt v. 2.22

Friday rolls around every week, and here's my post for Eden Hills' Friday's Hunt.

This week's prompts are:  Starts with V, Week's Favourite, and Thankful.

Starts with V
Last week, you might remember that I shared a picture of a shrew that was gathering seed under my bird feeder.  This week, as if it knew that I needed a letter V picture, a vole showed up in the same place (at least, I'm fairly sure it's a vole, since it definitely isn't a shrew or a mouse).  I was so excited to actually see the vole and be able to photograph it through the window.  The pictures aren't great because they are through window glass, and also because the vole is very fast.  I tried to do some research on vole species that live here in New Brunswick and I think the only one it can be is the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus).



I think he (or she) is just the cutest little critter!  I love that golden brown fur and those sweet little ears.

Voles do look somewhat similar to mice, but they have a more rounded nose.

You can also see that the tail is relatively short, at least compared to a mouse tail.

If anyone thinks it's not a vole - please let me know!  I'm not a vole expert - its just my best, semi-educated guess.

Week's Favourite
My favourite shot this week was something I haven't seen before - at least not quite like this.  We had our first snow on Thursday morning, and when I went outside to fill the bird feeders and look for picture opportunities, I saw this unusual sight.

It's a strand of spider web hanging from the gutter all the way down to the steps, and snowflakes had adhered along the entire length of the strand, making a glittering string of snowflakes in front of the door.

I have seen snowflakes on spider webs before, but never on a single long strand like this.

Thankful
It was Thanksgiving in the USA this week.  In Canada, we have Thanksgiving in October.  This year, it was on October 10th.  Even though it isn't Thanksgiving time here, I often count my blessings, and think about the many things I have to be thankful for.  Among the many things I am thankful for every day (in no particular order) are:
  • my wonderful husband, Marc
  • my dear parents, who have always been there for me through thick and thin
  • my spinning and knitting friends, with whom I spend happy hours pursuing my hobbies and sharing their good company
  • friends in many parts of the world - some in places I have lived, some that I have never actually met, but all of whom are special to me and whose friendships I value dearly
  • the ability to work for myself doing something that I enjoy
  • the opportunities I have had in life for a good education, a multi-faceted career, and broad experience in travel, arts, culture and history
  • my furry and fleecy friends who make me smile every day
I'm especially thankful for the home where I now live and its beautiful surroundings.  I feel very lucky to have found this home and to be able to share it with Marc, and to have a yard where I can walk around and see the magic of nature each and every day.  Here are a few photos of the surroundings for which I am always thankful.



11 comments:

Tom said...

I would rather do have voles feeding in my garden. We also have our first snow this week...magical. Claire such wonderful winter scenes.

porkpal said...

The snow covered spider web is awesome!

Michelle said...

The snow makes your place a fairyland and that spider web – WOW!!!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Yes I agree we all have a lot to be thankful for and oftenwe do not realse just how much. Love the snow scenes and that snow clovered spider's web is fantastic. Never see that either. Have a lovely weekend.

Jim said...

Very pretty snow pictures, Claire. We probably won't have any snow here in the southeastern part of Texas. About once every ten years we do. I wouldn't know a vole from a mole from a shrew. I don't thing we have voles here either.
Are you afraid to go outside in the dark. I would hate to be stepping on one of those creatures. Thank you for showing them and the shrews.
..

Jackie McGuinness said...

We haven't had a snowfall yet here in the city.
That spider web is amazing!

Anonymous said...

Am in the same position - thankful for the beauty of the mountains more North, since we lived for 3 decades in the LA-basin of CA. Also thankful we don't have to take the 7 hour lines of traffic to go from LA to Sacramento to visit our kids for the holidays! Since I'm still a city slicker, I have not seen a vole or shrew, or a mole (got to learn a lot!)

Su-sieee! Mac said...

You live in a wonderful world of wonder, Claire. Thanks for sharing it with us. I haven't ever seen a vole either. So, you've given me two firsts--a personal look of a shrew and a vole. The vole is cute. I really ought to get over my fear of furry creatures, particularly mice and rats.

Jeanna said...

That is a lovely yard, especially with the snow on the red berries. I'm hoping we don't get any this year, haha. I couldn't ever tell the difference between a shrew and a mouse, you have a good eye. That web with snow is FANtastic. I hope you put it on Twitter and Instagram.

Anonymous said...

Your home really is beautiful. I love reading your posts and seeing how happy you are! That really is an amazing snow-covered spider web. Wow! The vole is cute. Thanks for joining Friday's Hunt. Have a good week!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely yard to walk around. I've never seen a vole, it looks similar to a hamster, but the tail is a bit longer. What a great find--the spider web adorned with snowflakes.