Into the New Year

Here we are, almost two weeks into the new year. Finally have the Christmas decorations packed away and the house reorganized (more or less) back to the usual everyday routine. Since the holidays we've had all kinds of weather extremes, heavy snow, cold, then a move to milder days and drenching rain and winds. My mailbox was a casualty of the heavy snow or the plow, not sure which, but one morning the poor thing was desperately lopsided. Have it sort of anchored now, but really hope we don't get any wild winds or it may go over completely.

Chickadees, a nuthatch, and a red squirrel are all enjoying the black oil sunflower seeds I've been filling the feeder with, and a pileated woodpecker has been hanging around too. Coming home late the other night, a damp and foggy evening, and the headlights picked up a young white-tailed deer standing very still just off the road by the woods. He turned and ran when we slowed down, appeared to be a young buck with antler buds just starting to show.

Our local power company is celebrating the new year by hiking the energy rate, bills out for year's end are horrendously high. I know people all over are getting hit with increases and it's hard when you're just making ends meet. Makes one thankful for the mild break we're getting in the temperatures. Today alone we've had a bit of freezing rain, pouring rain, and a little hail early in the day, weird weather, and the mercury is hovering around or above zero.

Noted the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary yesterday, an impressive gentleman. I admire people who use their fame and accomplishments to to do some good in this world. Such a lot of history goes with them as they pass on.

Remembrance Day Weekend

A cold Friday, hints of winter to come in the raw wind this morning. The cooler days seem to bring the birds out, so I refilled the feeder under the apple tree. Didn't take long for the black-capped chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches that are the most common visitors to tuck in, though the pesky crows also soon discovered the sunflower seeds and had to be shouted at if anyone else was to get anything. They like to shake the feeder until all the seeds fall on the ground, not satisfied with their daily ration of dry bread and overcooked toast crusts. Heard a tap-tap-tap in the stand of old dead trees behind the shed, and there was a hairy woodpecker hacking away at the tree trunk, tearing off bits of bark in great enthusiasm.

Finally have most of the garden prepared for winter, just the butterfly bush and one Autumn Joy sedum left to cut back. Took quite a while to trim down the bee balm as it has spread into a major player in my herb garden. Several years ago I planted bee balm, tansy, chives and thyme into a small bed that is built into what we call the stone patio. It's really an area of patio stones framed by squared off logs (the wood is rotting away) with a concrete type of table and half circle benches. Looks a bit like an ancient ruin -- if you don't look too closely. It makes a nice spot for setting out containers of sun lovers, gets very hot on summer days and has no shade at all. This summer cherry tomatoes, portulaca, basil and summer savoury did very well out there, along with lemon gem marigolds. Love the gem marigolds, they last well into the fall and are so bright and cheerful.

Listening to CBC radio today and some programs have begun Remembrance Day related music and interviews. A regular and excellent radio drama I'm hooked on is part of Friday mornings -if you can get CBC listen for "Afghanada". I've been affiliated with the peace movement in the past and still believe in our goals, but I also honour and respect our veterans past and present. My Uncle Frank served in WWII and I always think of him at this time of year though he's been gone a long time now. I have a yellow ribbon tied to the cedar hedge by the road, and every time I look at it I think of the families who know their dear ones will never come home. My prayers and thoughts go out to our people in Afghanistan and those they mean to help. Tough world to figure out sometimes, most folk are doing the best they can to get by. The little things - a sunny day, a smile, a friendly greeting - they help us all through this world of ours.