Where the deer, but no antelope, play

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I was reminded the other day that I had not updated this blog for a while. I have no real excuse except that it's been so cold, I only want to curl up under a blanket next to the fireplace with a good book. Typing requires extracting my fingers from the warm cacoon. It's been snowy and cold here in Iowa this January. Well, it's always snowy and cold in Iowa in January, but it has seemed particularly harsh this winter. But, the cold hasn't kept the deer away. They came out to play yesterday and spent some time in the front yard eating the flowers and trees and (for the young ones) wrestling. I managed to grab the camera and click a shot just as they were spooked and started running away.

Today the tempurature is suppose to get above freezing, which means one thing: time to wash the car! I'll also have to test the snow to see if it melts just enough to make it sticky and perfect for building a snowman. We haven't had good snowman snow yet this year, so I'm still waiting to partake of that winter tradition.

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Photos

Deer in the Yard
They came out to play and eat our foliage. There is something wonderful about looking out the widow and seeing a family of deer frolicing in your front yard.

Cold and Snowy
Looking out Connie's kitchen window. I house-sat for her and woke up the first morning to 5 inches of fresh snow. I didn't realize how deep it was until I backed the car out of the garage, opened the door to get out to close the garage door, and sunk my foot in up to the top of my ankle. And I wasn't wearing my boots. It was cold and wet.

January's bulletin board
The Minburn City Clerk blames my bulletin board for all the snow this year. (Thanks, Sarah, for telling me about the magic snowflake patterns online!)