George, you have snow! I envy you. It hardly ever snows near Frankfurt and this year has been particlarly lame as regards flaky crystals falling from the sky. I like snow in winter.
Sorry about the screen writers strike. Up to now I hadn't given much thought how it affects other people working in the industry.
The bird? It must be a Thunderbird if it's close to your house!
Not firm in North American ornithology it certainly looks like what we would call a
Habicht (hawk) here in Europe or perhaps even a
Mäusebussard (common buzzard - a hawk-like European bird of prey not to be mistaken with the North American vultures you call buzzards).
Great shots by the way, mabe you should take up animal photography?
Uwe