SYH #12 today

Yeah, my first rabbit in 6 weeks. You know, I've been catching skunks (Mephitis mephitis) lately, not on purpose but because the little black and white bulldozers are attracted to anything that remotely suggests anything interesting. No, seriously. I caught my first skunk of the year in a mink (Mustela vison) set by a creek, then I caught another in a blind set on a rabbit trail... who would've guessed that skunks use rabbit trails? Anyway, I was plenty tired of catching large, smelly, black and white mustelids, so today I was very pleased to have caught a SYH.

You know, when I saw the size of the rabbit, I felt sorry for him because he was so skinny. He lived out in the brush and probably didn't try to eat what fell out of our bird feeders, so most of his diet had been bark, wood, leaves, etc. I'm glad that I was able to harvest some rabbits several months ago, because if I hadn't, there would've been 11 others competing with him for food, and they would all have been in worse shape than this one was. Rabbits in our area are at their highest population of the decade, and aren't predicted to be this abundant again for another 10 years.

Fair weather resolution

I absolutely hate taking the dogs to the vet. Strange smells, unhappy sounds, unclear boundaries, and a barrage of additional products and services that I'd be sure to add on if I truly loved my pets. Imagine all that, plus PMS, plus finding out your dear dog who was overweight at 54 pounds has gained another 15 pounds in the past year. (Manoah lost 2 pounds.)

I admit it. I cried all the way home. No specific reason, just all of the above, and everything else, besides.

I'm getting big, itchy welts at my insulin injection sites. I haven't found relief for the itching yet. It's wearing on me. So is the constant high blood sugar and the agonizingly slow process of finding the right insulin dosage. The nurse came up with a solution for the itching -- a longer needle. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

I think I've had PMS for the past 3 weeks now. NOT fair... to me or my loved ones.

So here's my fair weather resolution. India (my dear snuggle puppy) and I shall do what we must to get through the rest of snow season, and also the ugly part of mud season. This may include baths and chocolate and floral scents and snuggles and long rides in the truck, as appropriate. And then we will walk, whenever the weather is fair. We will love ourselves and each other and the fresh air and the earth under our feet and the birds and the flowers and whatever health we have. And we'll smile, and see who loses 15 pounds first.

Oh, and don't give up on me now. When I'm feeling a bit better, I'll post a picture of my new hair!

Attack of the Killer Grouse

Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. Now you know who Toby gets it from.

Yesterday evening, I was supervising jumping jacks and a nap (as unlikely as that sounds), playing Pyramids, and wondering if I'd bother sharing the picture I took of the grouse who now visit daily outside my window. Suddenly, I heard a giant crash and thanked the Lord for this sturdy house of ours. A peek out my other window confirmed that a grouse had crashed into the house.

There are 4 in this picture. One is in the crab apple tree. You can hardly see it against the blue of the sky, just above the tree line. Because of their timing and my lack of skills, it seems unlikely I will get a GOOD picture of them.

Just so you know that I know...

(huge sigh)

There are some things a reasonably mature woman should not blog about.

(sigh) I know.

So I won't.

Escape of the Superbowl Widow

I took myself to a movie, and I let Miss Lynae tag along. I warned her that she'd better not drive me nuts, and she didn't. Whew! We grabbed a bite to eat, bought a puzzle book in case she decided she didn't want to watch the movie (thinking she could sit in the lobby... it's that kind of theater), and sat through a perfectly mediocre chick flick. Then we went for a sit down, relaxing sort of evening meal, bought giant muffins for the fam to enjoy in the morning, and headed home.

My darling husband is taping the new episode of House for me. He didn't tell me of any crises when I walked in, so I assume things went fine while I was gone. If they didn't, I don't want to know yet.

I think I'll sneak back out and watch for the northern lights.

Book Meme

• Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
• Open the book to page 123.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post the next three sentences.
• Tag five people.

I was going to do this last night, but the print in my book was too small to read with my tired eyes. So even though my books have moved, I shall use the same one: Three Short Novels by Wendell Berry.

I cannot afford to quit. I realize that this is not ideal. But I am not an idealist.

I hereby tag the first five people to read this and say to themselves, "Hey, why not? I can do that."

Look, Ma!

She's reading Bernd Heinrich!

Everybody sing: It's a world of laughter, a world of tears...

Oh, and Mom... did you see the picture?

And did y'all see my prize-winning blog comment?

Happy February!

I currently have a pair of ruffed grouse enjoying their supper of crab apples in the tree outside my kitchen window. They've been making their way closer and closer to the house over the past week. Seeing them so close feels like a treat from God.

I'd take pictures, but it's nearly dark out.