Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Squandering Time

This is what I've been doing mornings while I listen to Washington Journal. This is what's been keeping me away from blogging. It's All-Star Puzzles, a puzzle, like a jigsaw puzzle but with square or rectangular pieces. And the pictures are nice. I rationalize that I'm exercising my mind, tho' I know I should be doing Pilates.



I missed the opportunity to commemorate Benjamin Franklin's birthday on January 17. My favorite Franklin quote:
"If you love life, then do not squander time. For that is the stuff life is made of."

Friday, January 23, 2009

Not for the Faint of Heart


The day started badly when B realized the scratching at her door wasn't the usual nuisance - Jake signaling for Murphy to come out and play. But Jake had neatly peed in her shoe and was futilely scratching around the shoe to cover it up. (Did I mention that B and Jake don't like each other?)




She came downstairs in her stocking feet to start Saturday morning chores. Stepping into her boots, she found them filled with black walnuts. She dumped them out and tried again only to find there were still nuts crammed into the toe. Red squirrels are compelled not only to gather every walnut they can find, but to move them around periodically to thwart any other squirrel who might have discovered their various hiding places. (In fact, later in the day when I put my boots on, I found the squirrel had retrieved the nuts B had dumped out and stored them in my boot.)


Soldiering on, B filled the birdfeeders and scattered some feed on the ground for the turkeys and crows. Then off to take fresh water to the chickens and add some straw to cover the chicken coop floor. Chickens are alarmists about the tiniest sudden movement. So, naturally, scattering the straw completely panicked them. The youngest rooster fled out to the yard, landing in a deep snow bank. He was half immersed in the snow but with his feet not reaching the ground - effectively immobilized. I wish I had a picture of that.


Heading back to the house, B found the deer happily licking up the feed she'd left on the ground for the crows and turkeys. What's the use? B likes crows and turkeys, but not chickens or deer and especially not Jake.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Herd



I've adjusted to the deer wandering through the yard nibbling the shrubs.


I know that after avoiding them on the long drive home at night I still have to look out for them as I pull into the driveway.


I've even accepted that our bird feeder herd has doubled from two to four.



But somehow this image of them loafing in the garden just seems like the last straw.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Fresh Starts

In this imperfect world I find myself irresistibly drawn to blank slates, tabulae rasae, fresh starts. I need as many New Year's Days as I can possibly find.

In ancient Pagan traditions, November 1 is New Year's Day. It makes as much sense to me as January 1 (basically no sense at all) so I'll take it. There's the first day of spring; the first day of school; and frankly, every Monday morning.

Happy New Year.
Thanks to friend and artist Jack Lambert for this reminder of HOPE in 09.