Snow and Birds. Birds and Snow. (Updated)
UPDATED 3-2-2015. Forgot to add my little poem)
The snow is falling,
The feeders are full.
All the birds have gone to rest.
And the best is yet to come.
It’s not Christmas in Dixie
But it sure feels like fun.
Eight inches of snow,
And the heaters full of coal.
With the snow still falling,
It’s time to go.
God Bless you all,
and most of all, thank you Lord for the snow.
Russ Austin
My view from the bed. The backyard.
CLICK on the photo to enlarge.
UPDATE: Mr. John is doing very well now. That man still has so much energy it is almost like he is still a 20 something instead of 91 years old. Mr. John is a great man. Always keeps you on your toes. And if you think you know the answer to anything and he also knows an answer, but a different one, then you just better give up because his answer is the correct one. I have nothing but RESPECT for Mr. John Crumly. 
Both Donna and Beth have settled back into their ‘normal’ life routine. That is IF there is a normal routine to everyday life. I know that both of them stay really busy. We don’t talk as much as we used to and that is just because of everyday life and we just run out of time in each day before we take a nap and start over again. Just like many of you reading this. Why do the days seem to be getting shorter the older we get?
This little bird must have flown into my window. I looked out and saw it dazed. It stayed in my hand for about 15 minutes in the house. I then took it outside and sit it on a box just outside my door. I told it to “go be free” and it took off like a lighting bolt. Thank you God for the chance to hold your little bird.
Time is moving on. It will soon be 0ne year since Mrs. Crumly passed away, June 22, 2014. And still, just like today, I shot a photo of a bird and the first thought I had was, “I can not wait to show Mrs. Crumly this bird.” 
WARNING! This will be picture overload. (I can’t even get all this written because every time I look up I see a great chance to take another photo of a bird. The red bird I just shot)
I know for some of you reading this, snow is not a big deal. For us on Sand Mountain, it is.
Oh but for the people up north around New York and Boston it is a much bigger deal than anything we have had to endure around here. Snow like we just had is a really big deal to us. We had 8 inches at my home and some places had more. Needless to say, yes, everything was shut down. Schools were out almost all week, some business were closed and we did not dare to get out on the roads for about 3 days.
Now for me, this time, I really enjoyed it all. I am considered ‘disabled’ with MS, meaning ‘considered’ I still get around good most days, drive and do what I want most days. I just have to pace myself and long walks are no longer an option. I love my life and I thank God everyday for the blessings he gives me each and every day. Life is good. NO, life is GREAT! 
As most of you already know there is nothing I enjoy better than to be able to just lay in my bed and make pictures out my big glass sliding door in my bedroom. The winter time I have my birds I feed. The summer time I have my humming birds I feed.
Somewhere around 21 years or so I had a ‘professional photography studio.’ I still am not sure what a “professional photographer” is I just always tried to do my best then and now. I loved my job right up to the very end on February 14, 2007 when I had to walk away from it because of the MS. 
It took me over 3 years to even think about a camera. As much as I loved having a camera in my hand all day and some times all night, I just could not bring myself to even think anything about photography. And now it seems like I have the thrill again and I love to take all the wonderful God given beauty out of my big ‘ol sliding glass door. My window to the world. My window to my kind of country living. 
Baeutiful, simply beautiful. Nice article too. you did not mention just how much snow you got . The snow seems to enhance the color of the birds and bless their little hearts it seems they have to work so much harder to stay warm.
Beautiful, Russ!
Thank you Mrs. Porter.I hope and pray all is well with you.
Thank you Donna for reminding me about the poem. That will answer you question.
Beauty was all around (correction: Beauty IS all around. We just have to take time to see and enjoy. Our son from Rochester, NY was visiting during our last snow. Don’t think he enjoyed the beauty of the snow as much as most of us (well, those of us who could stay inside, warm and cosy or those young enough to get out and play.