Backyard Trails

While Mr. Johnson was at work Saturday morning, I had the chance to spend some quality time with our little green Toro snowblower making paths in the backyard. In some places the snow had drifted to at least 30 inches and I was getting tired of putting on my snow pants and big boots just to go out and fill the birdfeeders.

I've made these paths in previous winters and it turns out that in addition to making it easier for me to fill all the birdfeeders, it also makes it easier for Sophie to get out on her potty breaks. It also makes it really nice for my backyard critters -- mainly deer and bunnies -- to get to their food too. Here's the view right out the basement patio door.....believe it or not, there were actually deer hoofprints right up to the patio! I sprinkle a little birdseed on the patio for the juncos and the deer came sometime during the night and ate up all the remaining seed.

Here's the convergence of trails right outside the kitchen window. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see additional deer tracks out beyond the trails. We have a double row of white pines right there, so it's a good sheltered spot. I'm hoping sometime this winter the deer will take advantage of that shelter and use it as a bedding area.

I also made some trails for Mr. Johnson to place his targets for his daily archery practice. Naturally, the critters and Sophie are also taking advantage of these trails too.

One more view of a couple more trails. In the top right of this picture (behind that evergreen tree), I have another birdfeeder that's only visible from the basement patio. That's also the area where the deer usually enter or depart from the backyard.

I wish I would have thought of taking these pictures a little earlier in the day so I could show you all the hoofprints on these trails. We still have at least 6 deer visiting the yard -- much more regularly now since the snow has arrived.