We start the new year with a snow.

Snow started coming down gently on the afternoon of January 7 and in the morning we had an inch or so of accumulation, enough to be beautiful and white. The rarity of snow in Atlanta brings us out toplay a little, so Brenda explores the snow in the back yard.

In anticipation of the snow, Rod had made sure the bird feeders were full. This downy woodpecker seems to be appreciative - they prefer the suet to anything else we put out.

Brenda and I went out to explore the snow, but we found that several things had beaten us out. At left below, a cat had checked out the house. In center, a rabbit was exploring, and fortunately didn't cross paths with the cat. At right, birds were exploring the snow.

We only see these small dark migratory birds at this time of year. We have seen large flocks of them, but this time there were just a few arriving with the snow. Rod examines the snow on the vehicles - its just a little snow, but an excuse to get out and play.