Guy Fawkes Day

 The plan to work in the yard took a back seat to some other things today.  I did get out to the triangle part of the yard and added some more mulch, but it is not yet complete.  Keziah and I are going to an event tomorrow and will be gone all day so yard work will wait until Sunday.  I'm happy that some progress was made; other happy things today:

• First thing this morning I had a dentist appointment.  Until I find out otherwise, the dental insurance through work seems to have covered the entire visit-cleaning and full x-rays.  I'm good for another six months.
• I made a checklist of things to do and everything on there has been checked off.
• I got a nice picture of Gideon and Aesop snuggling on the couch.

• I worked on what will become a braided rug and got to my first color change.  

I'm thinking of calling the rug Sherbert.

• When going to get the SD card from the wildlife camera I saw some footprints in the mud.

Pretty sure it is from a deer.

• I've only written a little bit for NaNoWriMo so far today.  Only 111 words so far.  If I can stay awake, I'll do more writing before I go to sleep.

☮

Currently reading:  Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Fresh Air

 There were surprisingly few animal footprints when I walked out back today.  There were a few deer tracks and something small like a mouse.  I could hear chickadees in the trees and saw a few morning doves.  The new tracks today were that of a snowmobile and the footprints of the rider.  My guess is that something happened with their machine, they walked home and then got another person to help them out.  Since I haven't been out there in over a week, I can only guess that this happened yesterday or the day before by the way the snow on their trails were a little melted, but not really covered.  

The walk was difficult, but very rejuvenating.  The temperatures soared into the 40's today so my winter jacket was perhaps too much as I moved slowly along on snowshoes.  I think I am getting better at using the snowshoes.  At least I didn't fall this time.  The fresh air and bird song was what I needed to get out of yesterday's miserable headspace.  I also took the time to notice the very beginnings of buds on some trees.  Signs of spring help warm my heart.

Deer prints.

Itty bitty leaf bud.

The Witch Tree still stands.

Other happy things today:

• My aunt got in touch with Keziah about borrowing some knitting needles.  Next thing I knew we were driving to meet her and then go on to her grandson's house that they are building.  He planned for a house for just him, and then he fell in love.  Thankfully there is room for two in the 30' X 30' house on a hill he is building.  

View from what will be the kitchen window.

Sunset.

• My cousin came by too.  Her dog, Daisy, is always looking for attention.  Daisy got so many cuddles and scritches as she went between Bel and I and anyone else in the room.

Isn't she adorable?

• While the sun was shining, the front room heated way up.  Winston loves it out there.

Winston, watching the wildlife out the front room window.

February 25th is Commedia dell'Arte Day.  There will be a Zoom performance from i Sebastiani: The Greatest Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in the Entire World, at 7 PM at this link.

☮

Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

Stay safe.

Finally Friday

 It has been almost three months since I had a job, still Friday seems to have meaning.  Perhaps it is just because it has meaning for others.  It might be that it is because of the accountability things I have been doing with TF.  This week I have managed to get almost everything done on my list, and I still have two days.  Other happy things for today:

• It is February and so cold in New Hampshire.  I decided to take a walk this morning, the length to be determined by my cold tolerance.  It was five degrees according to the app on my phone.  I chose a point along the property to make the decision as to how long I'd be out.  If my body hadn't started to generate enough heat by that point, I'd go home.  If it did, I'd do another loop or head to the conservation area.  I was still cold enough and so I was only out for about thirty minutes.  By the time I was back home, calories were burning and I was warm enough.  Keziah commented that I looked cold, I wasn't.  

• Along the walk were deer, cat and coyote footprints, new since I was out there two days ago.  

When I took this photo, I thought
I would know what it was when I got home.
Coyote or fox are my guesses now.
I can't picture the size anymore.

• The trees were making a frozen crack sound that I hesitate to put here as a happy thing.  Fear is what I felt when I heard them crack.  Since none of them fell-split by the freezing temperatures- while I was out there, I am happy.  😊 
• It was a bright, sunny day.  The cold woke me and the sun gave me energy to be productive.  

• A friend and I had a lovely facetime call today.  She is a paraeducator and had some stories to tell from this week that reminded me of the parts of that job that I like, the rewards when students enjoy or learn things.

There is a new post on my Odds and Ends blog with some possibly not pleasant photos.  Your mileage may vary.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Also reading: Quiet by Susan Cain.


Wash your hands.