Hibernation Ends

More animals are around these days, the birds are singing and it really feels like spring is coming.  The sun even came out for a good stretch today and I started dusting the shelves and opening doors!

The Mountain Chickadees came this morning, they have been faithful visitors all winter.  This one stayed within view of me long enough to take an almost clear picture. One of these days I'm going to set up the tripod and get some better shots.  They move so fast!

We also had a visit from the squirrel. Rusty alerts me to his presence by quickly slinking over to the window like the killer he is.

Who would want to kill a cute little thing like that? So fluffy and adorable.

                                   

That's who.

It's 34 degrees, mostly cloudy at 4:00 pm.

The Day Before The Day After Tomorrow

I'm reading The Prophet of Yonwood, by Jeanne DuPrau, third in the Ember series. While I love disaster and end of the world type books and movies, I'm wondering now if maybe they're a bad thing. Sometimes science fiction becomes fact, so if you want the future to be good, maybe you should write it that way. Are we getting too used to the idea of robots taking over the world, nuclear apocalypse and other self-inflicted destruction? I love these scenarios in movies, so I can say, "See, I told you, you jerks, you're gonna ruin it all!" But I certainly don't really want that to happen.

Now that we have a new President, it may be time for a break from the doom and gloom. We should start to make stories about how a miracle is going to get us out of this mess and everything will be great. And then maybe that will happen...it beats the alternative, making stories about the end of the world, and that happenning.

How about aliens land on earth and fix everything for us and then leave, (I've started my own story about this one). Or a bacteria that feeds on mean people's brains wipes them all out and then the rest of us can live in peace. Or here's my favorite, the animals revolt and take over the world, and allow us to live if we're good and don't overpopulate the world again and hog all the resources.

All you writers out there, take note: It's up to you to create the future, get busy! Because I don't want to wake up one morning to The Day After Tomorrow. That was a really bad movie.

The Return

My Spring Robin is back. See, I told you spring was coming. First the snow began to melt over the septic tank area (a sure sign), then the rains came. Now this guy is here. It's conclusive. Pay no attention to that white stuff behind the Robin, it's not snow, NO, it can't be.

Last year I saw the first Robin on March 10, but it was also in the 50s that day, imagine, 50s, how nice.

I got a bunch of garden books at the library yesterday. I really like John Brookes, who I mentioned before, and got another one of his, called Garden Masterclass. He has great photographs and a wonderful eye. He relies on nature for inspiration a lot more than other garden designers. Exactly what I'd like to do. Now I just have to figure out how. It's not as easy as it sounds. You need to study natural forms and landscapes around you and keep your garden in harmony with them and kind of flowing with them.

Dagnabbit, all this grass has to go! We live in a forest! Well, some of it has to go. I do love grass, and the goats will like it too. They'll also like the rose bushes, the fruit trees, the flowers, the vegetables...

It's 40 degrees, overcast at 10:15 am.

Rusty's Remote

You're not gettin' it.
You touch it, you die.

I'll guard it in my sleep.

The next day...On the papasan...is that the remote under your tail, Rusty?


See these claws? You've got no chance, lady. The remote stays with me.

Manifest Destiny

Exciting news on the manifesting front! Well, the swimming pool has not materialized yet, but Jr. managed to make the smoke alarm in my bedroom go off last night with his mind power. Very strange and mysterious. I've asked him to redirect his efforts onto winning the lottery, so I can keep my hearing, and visit that tropical island in the picture I bought yesterday. I'd show it to you, but it's probably not ok legally, so I'll draw a picture of it instead.

Well, you get the idea. Palm trees, white sand, clear water, me just outside the picture on a towel, taking a nap.

Out for a walk

We have a new friend, her name is Sheba.

She loves to run.
She likes to watch people making snow angels.

She's curious.

But she's not ours!

Sheba's driveway.

Sheba is a neighbor's new dog. Everytime we pass her house she comes out and takes a walk with us. I talked to her owner and it's ok by him. So now we have the best of all worlds in Sheba. A dog to accompany us on walks, but no dog at home to feed, wash, train, clean up after, chase down, or apologize for. Yes!

Besides all the work involved, Rusty wouldn't be very welcoming if Sheba came to stay. Sheba wasn't too keen on him either, she started barking and lunging. I wonder who would win that fight? It would be ugly, no doubt about it.

It's 36 degrees and cloudy at 10:15 am.

Babies

We spotted a baby in the fish tank! Then another!

That must be the mom, she's getting really bulky. The tank is overgrown with algae and plants right now. The only maintenance I do is to add water. We haven't had babies in a long time, so I guess overgrown is what they need. There are two platys, one shark, two catfish and about a hundred thousand snails in the tank right now.

The weather has been snowy and cold. I see from the poll that there are only 13 days left of February. That's good, because Rusty and I are really tired of taking our walks in the snow.

Snow cat

There are hardly any birds except a few chickadees. It's too quiet, too cold, too white. Maybe March will bring some green. Only the Leprechauns know.

Full Moon Tonight

We took these pictures on Saturday, not quite a full moon. If we're lucky it'll be clear tonight so we can try to get more shots, but it's cloudy right now.

J used a long exposure on these:

Isn't the moon amazing? It looks as though a big rock hit it down in the lower right area and shock waves are emanating out from the crater. And what about the bright spots...moon cities?

It's 31 degrees, a few flakes falling from grey skies at 12:00 pm.

Last Winter

It was just as snowy last year, if not more so.  

The difference is that we got most of the snow in December this time, and last year we got it in January and February. So I think we may thaw out quicker this year.  

The garden fence.  The garden still had a few patches of snow in late April.

We didn't bother shoveling a path this year, now we just walk through or alongside the garage.

This February is very foggy.  I can see the sun up there, trying to break through.  So close!  As soon as it does, this white stuff will start drip drip dripping away.

It's foggy and 33 degrees at 9:30 am.

Neighborhood color

That's all folks!