Don't pay the ransom .. I just escaped !!!! 
Ok so I wasn't kidnapped I was just kind of hunkered
down during the first winter blast practicing for when
the weather really gets bad.  I did get a couple days out
just before the cold snap to chase some birds around but
once the weather hit they were safe once again

Pheasants are almost too pretty
to hunt but these stocked birds rarely
make it through the winter with all of the
predators on  the property .

I must say one does not realize how out of shape one is
until they start tromping around in the high grass and
reed habitat that these birds prefer. After a couple days
of high stepping through waist high brush I found myself
with rubber legs and endless leg cramps.  I see it as a sort
of  'Pheasant's revenge'  Somehow I'm thinking the cold
snap was a blessing.  It brought me back in to the house.
    Now any normal person would think that being held up
inside from the weather would mean lounging around with
hot chocolate and pop corn.  They would be wrong,.  To my
amazement there were snowmen (and women) to be made..
pipes, wooden carrot noses to be formed .. and all sorts of
painting to be done.  My wife loves crafts .. or should I say
she loves to watch people making crafts.  At any rate the
snow people are done.. the inflatable Frosty is mounted
tethered  to the ground and the small amount of lights are
up.  and just in time I might add.  It's supposed to get into
the forties tomorrow...  can you say heat wave !