Ground is solid ice. Snow patches are at most, an inch deep. Some is solid. Some is soft. Cool. 30 degrees. Light breeze. No birds or squirrels out yet. Sun was just a thin line along the horizon. 
Winter Solstice at 10:03 AM today! Now days will be getting longer. 
Have had Flickers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Blue Jays, both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Jincos, Doves, and Cardinals at or around the feeders. Have seen pigeons, Crows, and Ducks flying overhead. Squirrels are still out. No chipmunks. 
 Still using both furnace and heat pump in response to temperature. Got a record high temperature of 56 last Wednesday which broke the record of 54 in 1899. Water supply and quality is good. City water. Merrimack River was unfrozen a couple days ago, due to high temperature. Skiing and other winter activities should be great up north.