I’m grateful to have shared a moment with a barred owl on the way back from getting the mail. I saw it flying at thought it was a hawk, for a moment, but the tail was short. With that eerie silence as it flew. It calmly watched me as I came in view up the driveway and watched me watching it as I stood and stared. As you know, I’m having an abundant mouse year and that owl looked hungry. This is the second time I’ve seen a daytime owl, I suspect more because there is abundant food here, rather than because they are going to solve my mouse infestation. Hope that isn’t too bloodthirsty, I mean, most people like owls and don’t want them to starve.
I’m grateful to be warm.
I’m grateful to have gotten my shoveling done early and that the snow was light, that’s what temps in the teens will do.
I’m grateful to have found a bag of balsam I saved after taking apart a wreath. I threw some into the wood stove and the scent is faint but very present. I think the scent of dried balsam on a hot humid day, is the most intensely sweet thing I have ever smelled. I keep a couple of old Christmas trees that I collect from the neighbors in early Jan tied up in a “teepee” near the bird feeder so they have cover nearby. By the time summer comes, they are crisp and sweet and on a still, warm day, they are almost overwhelming.
I’m grateful I’ve gotten most of my utilities going. Working on making lemonade from this, the taxes here are low, but I have to pay $102/month for city “utilities” that includes trash, sewer, pavement fixing, a couple other things I thought taxes were for, other than water and sewer. $1224/year plus water. Apparently sewer is a set rate and water is extra. Makes me less appreciative of all the little sprinklers in the gardens. They are very efficient but there are a whole lot of them. I wonder what xeriscaping would look like? Maybe I’ve just been a country mouse for too long, hauling my own stuff to the transfer station, using water from the well and a septic system.