Brad Sondahl's blog

December 1 2022

This is actually from a week or so ago, very happy with how the rainbow hues showed even though it was cloudy...
We got 15 inches of snow yesterday: It doesn't show on the pottery kiosk roof due to the odd way the cottonwood (and a lot of deciduous trees) retained their leaves this fall... But it shows in front...

This is a view looking towards the point off of the ridge on Spirit Lake last week... We couldn't walk up there now without snowshoes.

This is the view out our dining room window so we can watch the birds eat while we eat... The round table has enough snow-free area under it so juncos can find the sunflower seeds... We generally have mountain and black capped chickadees, song sparrows, house finches, and gold finches, with occasional flickers and chestnut backed chickadees.

Dec. 3
I'm finally taking a turn with Covid--felt tired for a day with a runny nose, body aching, slight fever, and tested positive. The next day I felt better, and today I only have a stuffy head, but am isolating for a few days for the benefit of others.
So I added another web page to Uncle Willie and the Brandy Snifters, from the articles and images provided by Bud Claeson. The next step is to put some of their music on Youtube...

Dec. 4 I made some videos for the Brandy Snifters, linked off their new webpage above..
I also made a new version of Angels we have heard on high/Good King Wenceslaus with pictures taken at Spirit Lake today.

Dec. 5
Here are a couple photos from the hoarfrost growing on the lake (got covered by fresh snow this morning)

This was a footstep on the ice which regrew with frost...

A lot of leafy growths faced the same way, growing from the same moist breeze...

Dec. 11

I noticed as I put out seed for the birds that a lot were tame enough that I could take photos from about 5 feet away.

So here's a good view of why they call it a chestnut backed chickadee. We're lucky to also have black capped and mountain chickadees who were there at the same time...

Papoose island, Priest Lake

"Woodrat" area, Priest Lake.

Dec. 19

A lighted crane was in our holiday parade this year...

This person named Sarah and her dog Quarrry were next to me in the parade line. There were around 10 participants on this cold Saturday.

I usually light up one of our garden carts, but the deep snow made it too hard to get out. The sled was good except they'd cleared Maine Street down to the pavement.

With the heavy snow, our feeders are very popular. This mountain chickadee let me stand about 5 feet from where it would perch while waiting a turn at one of the feeders...

Dec. 26
This was the old saw mill next to our church at Priest Lake yesterday.

books read

Star Scavenger series by ? Ogden. Initially reminded me of Andre Norton's writing but took a melodramatic turn about fighting a few evil characters...
Mission Inn-Possible Cozy mysteries by Rosie A. Point. Very enjoyable, similar to Janet Evanovich, although not trying to be as funny...