By Kathy Ellsworth

I went out this morning all bundled up to feed my deer and birds. The chickadees and nuthatches were waiting for me. I'm filling their suet baskets with pure peanut butter. It doesn't freeze hard like the other mixtures I make. I also bought a bag of shelled sunflower seeds for them . . . they love it :0). They land on the top of my hood and shoulder.
Sometime, as I pour the pail of seeds in the feeders, they land on my wrist as if they are watching the seeds go into the feeder.
My deer are now getting a mixture of oats, cracked corn and molasses oats. Plenty of high energy food to keep them warm. At first I did not mix in the molasses oats with the other feed. I would put it in a separate pile for them. The baby deer would chew and chew like they were eating taffy. It was funny to watch them. They liked it but wanted the oats and cracked corn too, before it was all gone.
The deer like it better mixed. I put two buckets cracked corn, two buckets of oats and one bucket of molasses oats.
A long time ago at the bull riders event in Thief River, we went to the Best Western's Lounge. All of the girls and I were at one table and ordered a bucket of Bud Lite in the bottles. I kept the bucket and use it for getting the feed out of the big canisters and putting it into a 5 gallon bucket. The wide top of the bucket, makes it easy for scooping into the canisters to get the feed.
Rambling. . . . . .
Molly and I gave all the Bunnies an extra carrot and besides hot water in their bowl we give them a big bucket of snow for fluids. They have their Bunny chow too. It's fun to have them run up to you when you go outside. When they need their food and water dishes filled, they come right up to your feet and start pulling on your boot laces. After they have their bowls all filled, they are pretty content to stay, eat and drink.
I saw a big timber wolf cross the highway last night on the way home. It was crossing the highway, between the Loman Ranger Tower and the Lindford Road aka County Road 1. At first I saw the eyes and thought it was a deer because of the size. To my amazement, it was a timber wolf. It had a Beautiful blend of white, gray and black. Healthy looking, with a thick full coat of fur. It moved effortlessly, going through the snow on the southeast side of the field. It stood in the area where they had logged last year. I turned my care, so my bright lights were shining in the area where it was standing. There was no traffic so I could watch it for awhile. It seemed to be alone. The full moon with it's light reflecting off the snow, a big timber wolf standing at a edge of a clearing, the shadow of the trees on the snow, it was a wonderful winter night.
The loggers have cleaned up the areas around our home where they logged. They made sure, they did not leave any big ruts or they get fine for poor management after clear cutting. I will have new trails and roads to walk and take pictures. New adventures with the new environment they have creative. It will be interesting to see what plants, flowers, animals, etc. will inhabit the area.
Change is dynamic. We can't stop it. Holding onto the past, blocks the natural process of change. We do not allow new opportunities and adventures to unfold.
One day at a time.... I keep my eyes open. I try to listen more. There is so much around us to learn and discover.
Take good care of you..... I'm having a very good day.
Life is good.