Our Winter Wonderland

After more snow, mixed with freezing rain last night, our neck of the woods has warmed up to a delightful 34 degrees this morning.  When I stepped outside, I could hear the unmistakable sound of thaw; the drip, drip, drip, from every eve, branch, and limb.  A musical symphony heard for miles I'm sure.  It means some people will finally get out of the house to buy food, or maybe get back to work, or just get out--after a week of isolation. 

I watched a fat cottontail creep out and then disappear into the bramble on the other side of the creek.  The birds and small animals instinctively know when it's time to make their move.  I need to remember to hang the suet cages up and fill the feeders, or just toss out some seed.  A non-migratory mixed flock swooped in yesterday and fluttered around the windows, clinging to the sills, I assumed to eat the bugs and spiders that always set up house there.   I stopped to observe them more closely as one little chickadee was actually looking in, peeping at me with it's tiny eye, and seemed to be chirping it's apparent distress.  Makes you wonder sometimes.  Do wild birds knowingly communicate to us, or have I been cooped up too long?  Possibly, true on both accounts. 

The thaw continues for now though, with intermittent snowfall.  Apparently this will continue into the weekend where the weather service has warned that something big this way comes...but they're not exactly sure when.  Or where it will hit the hardest.  Or how long it will last--and finally, ending with an apology that these freak storms are very difficult to predict.  Oboy.   All I know is it's dark and cold and birds seem to be warning me to take cover.  Hmmm...we shall see.  We shall see. 

In the meantime, I'll be leisurely wrapping a few more presents (don't hate me, I do my Christmas shopping early).  Writing news and greetings in Christmas cards to the relatives and long-lost friends.  Baking something sweet.  Untangling the threads in my sewing basket; maybe get around to actually sewing something.  Watch more holiday movies.  Lesley behind small meadow press, reminded me of a good one that I'd forgotten about:  A Child's Christmas in Wales.  Note to self:  Must order to add to our home movie library right now this very minute, before I get busy again and forget.  And two others along this line I just remembered:  Carrie's War, a Masterpiece Theater adaptation of Nina Bawden's book; and An Avonlea Christmas (from the producers of Anne of Green Gables) which followed the TV series with characters from Tales of Avonlea.  All from the 1980's I think, but who could ever forget the irrepressible Hetty King! 

Also finding Daily Routines--a typepad featured blog this week--quite fascinating.  It's about, "How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days."  That said, I need to get on with mine.