December Notes

Louie and I could hardly wait to get out and walk this morning.  Perfect fall weather beckoned us but we did notice a few unusual things. There seems to be a bumper crop of squirrels this year and they are all very active right now, storing up nuts and seeds for the winter. Wonder if that means we’re in for a lot of snow and ice.

Downy and hairy woodpeckers are everywhere, more than I’ve ever seen before. Hum! And we saw several accipiters, the usual red tail hawks and also the smaller kestrel plus a circling vulture or two. Rabbits, squirrels and other furry critters take note.

We’ve been lucky to escape the snow, wind and ice storms that have hit north and east of us but we sure could use some rain.

Last year I gave away our Christmas decorations because I thought I wouldn’t be having Christmas dinner here anymore. The kids have taken over that job; but this year, some of our family plans to spend the holidays in Hawaii, so we’ll celebrate at our house before they leave.  Guess I better start collecting pinecones on our walks.

Last night, we went to the ‘Live at the Met’ opera, Don Pasquale, at our local movie house. We loved it and were pleased to note several children in the audience. If you can find a movie theater near you that shows these beautiful productions, don’t miss going. The next one is Saturday, December 11 at 12:30 PM.

Time to go Christmas shopping. The sales look amazing; 30% off here, 60% off there, and free shipping on line. Let me know if you discover anything out of the ordinary.

Finally, I have to tell you about the tiny Christmas tree that Gracie gave us twenty years ago. She worked for a real estate company and that year they gave away little pine shoots with straggly  roots wrapped in plastic. Gracie gave us one and with no hope at all, we dutifully planted it in our back yard. During our annual springtime walk-about, we noticed the twig had somehow survived. Impressed with its tenacity, we surrounded it with a wire cage to keep it from getting mowed down and favored it with a drink of water every now and then. Several years later, we had to remove the cage because the twig had become a  bush. So now you’ve guessed the rest of the story. Over time, Gracie’s gift has grown into a healthy, full grown tree. It shields our house from southwesterly winds, provides shelter for a host of birds and adds beauty to our lives. We owe a belated and heartfelt thanks to Gracie and her real estate company. It was one of the best Christmas gifts ever.

Only 23 days left ‘til Christmas.