What I Want to See

 A new year is about to begin, and what I want to see is the beginning of a feeding frenzy on those that pushed the jab, harmed others, refused treatments due to politics, and are liable for what anyone else would call genocide. Attorneys have all they need to take millions to court, the money pockets are deep, and regardless of how the manufacturers are insulated, their minions don't have that protection. 

I don't do resolutions, but if I did, it would be to laugh every time someone that participated in the Covid madness is ridiculed, made to pay, prosecuted, or died. They deserve nothing more, and the world is better when they have no power, and will never again.

Too Soon, but Not Forgotten

I was sitting on the porch this morning, and my thoughts were soon filled with Christmas. I've had a few, and no matter what, every Christmas has some moments of trepidation. That's from decades in the past, when family members suffered from various problems, and they carried into the Christmas season. It's a gut reaction, and to be truthful, a few Christmas days were not really worth remembering. 

Other than a sister, who I'm not close to, I'm nearly all that's left of my family.  Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, some cousins, and three brothers are gone. Time took its toll, but sometimes time is much faster than anticipated, and the surprise of a loss takes a long time to find closure. It's what it is, and takes some remembering to go back through the chapters, and understand the entire story. The book goes on, and always, a new chapter is opened. 

If I really think long, and hard, I can probably think of maybe a dozen Christmas gifts I received over the years. Those I remember were really not fancy, or expensive, but had a value beyond what money can buy. That's the part of Christmas that is really not that important in the end. Things are things, but remembering a smile has no monetary value. That, the feeling of a warm home, with a good meal cooking, laughter, and family are the treasures to keep. They last forever, and are priceless. 

So, to everyone that comes to read, Merry Christmas, and may your blessings of family make you realize the real reason of celebrating can't be held, kept, or changed. It can only be shared with love, and that's what Christ is all about.

A Plethora of Species

 I was standing on the porch, enjoying the low forties temperature, and watching the steam on the pond, when a calling red shoulder hawk caught may attention as it flew over. I glanced over to the bird feeder, and started examining the number of birds either at the feeder, on the adjacent tree, or on the power line. I was a little amazed. 

A single common grackle was in the feeder. Cardinals were waiting in the tree, along with pine buntings, and Inca doves. Blue jays soon came to chase away the grackle and feed. On the power line was a kingfisher, a starling, and a few bluebirds. Crows were out near the road, and the call of a red belly woodpecker told me it would soon be at the feeder. A few wading birds flew over, and although it wasn't there, the cormorant that feeds in the pond will probably arrive this afternoon.

We have a lot of species that gather in the yard during the colder months. It won't be real long before the cedar wax wings will arrive, along with the blue buntings. Carolina chickadees, and titmice will occasionally come to feed, along with a number of smaller brown species like wrens and sparrows. Meadowlarks come and go in the yard. In breeding season, they will make ground nests in the yard, which may yield a few fledglings that look like cotton balls on soda straws. 

Watching the birds is an enjoyment that's hard to describe. All are interesting, and have a purpose. Being where I can observe is a blessing.

Four Weeks

 I had the cyst removed from my wrist on Monday. Everything went well, and much better than any surgery I've had before. The anesthesiologist gets the attaboy for her better than good skills. Whatever she did didn't lead to hours of loopy behavior, and from a conversation before the surgery, she was sharper than many I've dealt with before. 

So, four weeks with a wrist brace, some super glue instead of stitches, and what appears to be a very healthy wound will lead to a return to normalcy. That's a good thing, because typing is a little awkward at this time.

Quick Deluge and Temperature Change

 This morning, it was mostly cloudy, light wind, and a temperature in the upper seventies. A quick trip to the nearest big town for errands was shortened due to spotty rain, and a look at the radar. After a stop on the way home, we ran into the leading edge of the front, and were soon twenty miles below the speed limit in poor visibility. This lasted all the way home, and road ditches were overflowing. 

The wind must have been ferocious for a short period of time, when the front first arrived. Pine straw, small branches, and leaves covered our road, and the water was running over in the usual spots. Arriving home showed the porch furniture had blown over, and the yard was flooded. 

After going in, checking everything out, and returning to the porch, I looked at the rain gauge. It was around four inches, and the rain was still much more than a sprinkle. Over the next hour, it tapered off; leaving a steady light rain, and a temperature around 60 degrees. 

There's still a steady rain, and the radar shows we'll have this over the next few hours. With the rain gauge now only about an inch from the top, I'm wondering if we'll end up with six inches before it's over.