I'm In A Funk

I am deeply entrenched in a mid-winter funk (defined by my Webster's dictionary as "a state of depression"). I'm sticking with the term funk because it sounds a little less serious than depression. Unfortunately, this funk has resulted in a lack of blog posts lately. I've been a little busier at work, so there's hardly any time for non-work-related activities (i.e., reading blogs) and when I get home, I am lethargic and uninspired and lack the ambition even to read the posts from the rest of you, my dear blogging friends. So before everyone gives up on me, here's a little post just to let you know I'm still here and that nothing exciting is going on.

Here's Miss Penny enjoying a spot of afternoon sun on her chair by the window.

She had been waiting for the chickadee to come pick up some mealworms, but I chased her back to her chair because she tends to scare the chickadees away from their wormy treat at the window feeder.

Here's a bunch of goldfinches at the thistle seed feeders on my deck. This picture is from a couple weeks ago on one of those below zero Saturdays.

Because of my Project FeederWatch viewing, I have counted as many as 30 goldfinches at one time, but they generally come early in the morning and then I only see a few for the rest of the day. Pine Siskins aren't coming to the feeders anymore either. And I have yet to see a Common Redpoll, although I haven't given up hope for seeing them yet this winter.

The dogs woke me up at 3 AM this morning for a bathroom break. Before going back to bed, I checked the owl perch and sure enough, there he (or she) was. I dug my new monopod out of the drawer and screwed on the camera. Out of the 16 pictures taken, I was able to save 2 that were pretty clear. Once again, all of the surrounding security lights in combination with the low cloud ceiling contributed to good nighttime viewing.

With a little more monopod practice, I may be able to improve my nighttime photo skills.

I am anxiously awaiting spring. My mom reports that cardinals in her neighborhood are singing their spring song for the last two mornings. Although Mr. Groundhog did not see his shadow last Saturday here in our neck of the woods, the chances for an early spring aren't looking too good right now. My local Fleet Farm store is putting out all of the spring gardening supplies: seeds, garden hoses, and decorative statuary and I can only walk down those aisles while sighing deeply.