But, there are still some “scenic” moments like this one early yesterday:

The most constant local question these days seems to be “When are we going to pay for all this warm weather?” I’ll take a cold snap soon or otherwise ticks and mosquitoes will be rampant, Spring and Summer 2012.

In the meantime, birds are going crazy around here! I have a steady supply of Chickadees, Cardinals, Titmouse, Wrens, Nuthatches, and assorted other “visitors.”

This could be a top season for bird feeding at Rose Cottage…good thing I was ready!

So, what is good for heating bills – sporadically warmer-than-usual temperatures this year in North Carolina, is not good for Spring bulbs – which are now popping up too early.

Although I plant the new bulbs a bit deeper each year, the weather always seems to trick them into sticking their noses out of the ground – usually just before a bank of 20-degree mornings.

Here’s what I’ve found today, January 25th…

Such is the life of a gardener…Oh well…

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Time to think Spring for this year’s garden and to plan for some new color to my predominantly green landscape. Here are some current specials, (and some garden improvement ideas) from Garden.com:

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Daisy Weave Birdbath

The Daisy Weave Birdbath features stunning woven detail climbing the base of the pedestal, as well as around the rim of the bowl.

The intricate daisies that are crafted between each woven strand create an intricate and delightful accent. You can be sure the Daisy Weave Birdbath will add the finishing touch to your garden setting!

Morning Glory Pedestal Bird Bath

The Morning Glory Pedestal Bird Bath is the perfect choice for your outdoor area.

The beautiful morning glories set this birdbath apart from all of the rest! Winding up the pedestal of this beautiful birdbath, the morning glories are featured throughout and are sure to be adored by all of your garden guests, feathered and on-feathered. Make a statement and set the Morning Glory Pedestal Birdbath as your center piece.

Rambling Rose Birdbath

What would Rose Cottage be without a Rambling Rose birdbath?

The Rambling Rose Birdbath features stunning roses climbing the pedestal base, as well as around the rim of the bowl. The intricate roses and leaves climbing the base create an intricate and delightful accent. You can be sure the Rambling Rose Birdbath will add the finishing touch to your garden setting!

Victorian Rose Birdbath

Or a Victorian Rose birdbath?

The beautiful rose detail makes the Victorian Rose Birdbath the perfect choice for your home, garden, patio, or back yard.

Victorian Rose Birdbath’s attention to detail makes this piece one of a kind. Roses adorn the top rim of the Victorian Rose Birdbath as well as the pedestal. The detailing follows all the way down to the bottom of the Victorian Rose Birdbath to the pearls and tassels, making this the perfect Victorian birdbath.

Beauvoir Birdbath

For a touch of simple elegance…

A classic birdbath, the Beauvoir Birdbath is the perfect choice for your garden, patio, tabletop, or even indoors for home decor!

Imagine birds flying to and fro from from this beautiful birdbath. The Beauvoir Birdbath can also be used inside your home and placed in a bathroom for decor or in your doorway for a place to put keys. This versatile birdbath is the perfect choice!

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I thought I’d share my meanderings with you through some very cool outdoor living designs I found online. If the image was provided by vendors that actually supply the good or service shown, you can find their URL in the “alt” tag for further review and research. Will start with simple and move on up to “spectacular.”

I like the peaceful attitude of this simple deck, swing, and table. It makes a inviting place to sit and read or spend some time with a friend or two.

Anyone already lucky enough to have a wide porch can also take advantage of this simple addition. Add some colorful plants and you’re done!

This outdoor area looks like a good place to go to get away for awhile. There is a fairly simple stone base for the table, chairs, and other outdoor furniture. This is truly an outdoor living space!

Although the design is “country” you could carve this space out of any small suburban environment and enclose the area to your preference – or not.

I like the use of the old door to create a backdrop – where no wall or door actually exists. Good idea!

Now on to a couple larger-scale designs – not for the faint-of-heart from a budgetary standpoint but after all – we’re just looking!

Plenty of “WOW” factor going on here!

What I like about this design is that even though there is a lot going on – it doesn’t look cluttered. Too many outdoor spaces end up “noisy” with “stuff” that doesn’t really add to the overall use of the space.

The outdoor fireplace has a throne-area all its own – with the seating planned far enough away to keep guests from getting hammered by the smoke – something some designs do not take into consideration.

And then there are the water features…these need a post all their own but here’s a design as example:

Any time you add water where there was none before expect it to not come cheap. The inexpensive approaches would be to build your own small Koi-type pond or to add a fountain.

The design shown above looks like there may have been a pond on the property – and the designer customized it to make the area more inviting and useful. For those without a current water point on their property, fountains are probably the quickest and often the least expensive way to go. I recommend Garden Fountains.com for a wide choice of fountains – from estate-sized to those more appropriate for a small garden space.

The first day of Spring is March 20, 2012…no time like now to start planning your outdoor living space improvements for this year’s enjoyment!

Is there any more potentially depressing time of year than right after the holidays? Whether good, bad, or indifferent – the after-Christmas and after-New Year’s time frame can sometimes leave you just feeling exhausted.

In many areas, cold weather first hits hard during this same time – as does the flu. It’s 15 degrees here this morning in Central North Carolina – after a high temperature one day last weekend of 73 degrees. I can’t work outside because it’s too cold – although I am working rather diligently to keep that wood stove fed! The lack of physical activity during cold winter months can have a negative impact on a person’s mental and emotional health. Lack of sunlight and Vitamin D are also often cited as main culprits in seasonal depression.

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Add to this that if my father was still alive, today would have been his 77th birthday – and January seems to me a less than stellar way to start a new year.

Time to Re-boot!

Seed catalogs for Spring planting will soon be arriving in the mailbox!

Since it is dark by 5:30pm, I have more time now in the evening to read books or watch movies I don’t have time for on long, outdoor summer evenings. I am always looking for ways to improve my outdoor living environment and now is a great time to do some research and get some new design ideas – instead of trying to find time to do this while the grass is waiting to be watered or mowed.

If I get too bored, I can start planning my defense on the coming assault of tax season in April. Or in a more pleasant light – I can start planning a summer vacation. This winter “downtime” is also a great time to get your inside life organized. A good old-fashioned “throw-away” can be uplifting. Go through a room, or a closet, or a file cabinet that needs a clean-out and get it done.

Don’t be too tied to New Year’s resolutions. Too many people set themselves up for failure the very first day of the year – and then get discouraged. Instead, know that if you are alive and breathing this morning, you have a shot at 361 more days this year to change what you want to change and make any improvements you can as you go along.

If all else fails, maybe these Hyacinth images will help – and the fact that they bloomed before the end of February 2011 – not that long to wait for this season’s color. There’s also the clarity of a winter sky – which can not be seen in the more humid months of summer.

The first day of Spring is March 20, 2012…you can make it!

From Rose Cottage Ltd…

It does provide an opportunity to get a few more pictures of the Eastern Garter Snake…

And this particular snake’s length and size:

And the markings on its back:

I’ll file this info away for future reference and future walks around the lake. Since I don’t see many snakes, it gets easy to forget what’s likely to be seen here, and what they look like.

It’s 64 degrees here today in the beautiful Piedmont Region of North Carolina. The sun is out, the sky is deep blue, birds are singing, and there’s – a snake!

After working hard this past weekend when the temps were in the mid 40s to mid 50s – chainsaws going, wood being split, I decided that today would be a nice warm day to haul some more of that split wood to the shed at the back of the house. If it ever rains here, I’ll be that much further ahead of the wood stove “supply.”

I’m making my second trip and was about to take a step – carrying 9 split logs when…I notice something on the ground:

Do you see him? It?

Okay, I did give you a clue. But I, who am notoriously careful about where I walk and am always watching for snakes, never saw this one the first two times I (must have) walked right over it.

By the time I got my camera and returned, it had moved to an even more hidden position:

You can’t say the little so-and-so is not well hidden from all but up close and personal view. Actually the little “so-and-so” has a name – this time it’s a Eastern Garter Snake. Thanks to the Snakes of North Carolina web site once again for allowing me to quickly identify this latest “visitor.”

While my first thought might have been, “Off with its head” I decided since I all but stepped on it and it didn’t strike or bite me – to live and let live – and gather my firewood on a cooler day! This snake is also not poisonous – which would have changed my tune otherwise.

The news for the today is that since for the past few weeks I have been out on the property tramping around in leaves and debris as high as my knees – to note that snakes are still moving as long as the weather stays warm…FYI to self!

I found this little one online last year and she (I’m guessing) is so cute, I decided to bring her, and her Santa cap, back for a little mid-week and pre-holiday treat.

There is a lot of talk in the media trying make a controversy over Christmas, what it’s called, and who is “allowed” to celebrate it as they wish.

Let’s not forget the really important focus…whatever that means to you…

If you think the holiday is too commercial then don’t shop. If you don’t like my saying “Merry Christmas” then just don’t respond. If you think a Poinsettia is more than just a plant – available around the holidays – then don’t buy one.

Live and let live – life is too short to do anything else.