flare

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: flare.

Tictoc’s ruff of feathers look black from the side, but flare to scarlet and pink when seen straight on. That flare must help this small bird chase the larger ones away.

"Tictoc", a hummingbird, in a snowy lilac.

Tictoc has been chasing chickadees and towhees away over the weekend, no respect for larger size. But I had a second hummingbird sitting in the lilac at the same time.

Female Anna's hummingbird sitting in a snowy lilac bush.

sanctuary

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: sanctuary.

We are in a very big winter storm in the Pacific Northwest. Some years we get no snow, but right now we have 6 inches and still snowing. I have heat and light and power and tea. And food. So home is the sanctuary right now.

Is the snow threatening?

Shadow on snow: a tree or a monster?

Or beautiful?

Trees in the dark, covered with snow and back lit by a street light.

And yes, I took these this morning, at about 4:30 am.