Gambel's Quail in the Snow

Randy took these photos of the quail in our backyard. He set up a tripod by a large window and used a telephoto lens focused on the feeders. The quail are the sweetest creatures but they are very skittish. Just a tap on the window sends them flying. They come each day and eat the seed that has fallen to the ground from the feeders.

Birds puff up in the winter time. Air is an insulator. Air trapped in the puffed up feathers of the bird is warmed by the bird's own body heat and stays trapped close to the bird's skin. Take a look at this fat boy!

This is similar to how a diver's wet suit works. The water of a wet suit is warmed by the heat of the diver's body and is trapped within the space between the skin and the material of the wet suit which insulates the diver from the much colder water surrounding him.

When we got up this morning it was 5 degrees. Everyone tells us this is unusual. It feels like we have moved to the Arctic! The high today is 33 degrees so it will take a while for the snow to melt.

We went to WalMart for some groceries and supplies and the parking lot was really icy. I was skating around as I was pushing the cart. Everyone is driving very slowly around town but everything sure looks beautiful.

We also met with the man who will be doing our kitchen cabinets. He presented us with an initial design and we made some changes.......the first of many I am sure.