• quotes,  snow,  winter scenes

    Every moment is a gift…

    Taken about 1:22 pm from my front porch

    Every moment is a gift. … Whatever life gives to you, you can respond with joy. Joy is the happiness that does not depend on what happens. It is the grateful response to the opportunity that life offers you at this moment.

    Brother David Steindl-Rast

    A light wet snow began falling about 6:14 am, our first snowfall for the 2023 winter. I was planning on meeting Eric in Windsor for coffee and conversation this morning but as I headed out of town I had second thoughts and returned home. We talked on the phone instead, which was still a good conversation.

    Weather app says 2-7 inches possible by tomorrow noon and some much colder temperatures. Those temperatures will make roads nasty. During a lull, just after noon, I stepped outside and took this image. As you can see the trees still have a few leaves and with the snow being wet I’m afraid branches will be coming down. It’s Nature’s way of pruning.

    My saga with the raccoons continues providing another opportunity for either anger or joy, my choice. I noticed they’d done more damage on Friday afternoon, tearing down another 1/3 of the insulation. So, I sprayed the remaining insulation and the firewall with a mix of water and peppermint oil last night. This afternoon when I started the car and began cleaning it off, a heck of a racket came from my engine compartment as two raccoons scrambled for their lives. Once they hit the ground they ran like crazy for the culvert. At first I felt angry to know they were back and fearful they had caused even more damage. It’s frustrating because I do not want them to cause electrical damage but also laugh at the situation. At some period of my past I may have waged war on them but I’ve come to understand waging war is not a solution. I want them to leave my car alone and they want to survive. It’s Nature’s way of survival. Anyway, I sprayed peppermint again and have decided to park my car in a different location, away from the culvert. And if that doesn’t solve it, I’m getting rid of the damn car because the car’s the problem!!! 😂

    In reference to David Steindl-Rast’s quote I must agree that every moment is a gift. It was a gift when I felt the anger then let it go. It was a gift to laugh as I watched them run like hell. It’s a gift when I can share this comical/serious situation with you. And, it’s a gift for you to hopefully laugh at my situation while being grateful it ain’t you. Think I’m gonna soak in a hot tub of water tonight before bed and look at it as a gift.

  • Avian

    Enjoy your Saturday

    Western Kingbird

    Just as I was about to get into my car at about 4:50 am I noticed a raccoon across the parking lot making their way towards Julie’s condo. She has one of those large planters just outside her bedroom window that now has a Canada Goose nesting there with about 5-6 eggs. I watched as the goose stood her ground with her eyes focused on them. Luckily there was no conflict as the racoon moved on to find easier pickings.

    I then drove out to the open space at the intersection of William Neal Parkway and County Road 9 and setup my tripod for pre-dawn and sunrise photos. A good way to start may day. Lots of activity already going on there. Great Blue Herons wading the edges of the pond, geese and ducks floating above, meadowlarks singing, and barn swallows darting everywhere. I stayed for about 45 minutes and spent way too much time swatting the mosquitoes the barn swallows were missing. I really do like this area and the sunrise view it offers. I’ll post more images from this location later. I decided not to post another pre-dawn or sunrise image but instead posting this Western Kingbird taken this past Thursday afternoon. Rain expected later today. Enjoy your weekend!

  • animals

    Strange morning…

    Raccoon in my car engine compartment

    This morning I wanted to check my oil and this is what I found when I opened the hood. The raccoon seemed stuck with his head down. Honking my horn did not cause him to leave, which supported my idea he was stuck. I called animal control who sent a woman out. When she geared up to pull the critter out the raccoon would have nothing to do with it and went down and out. He has tore up the insulation which is strewn all over the engine, chewed through one hose and one set of wires seems to have some copper showing. I will take it in on Monday. Strange morning!

    The damage they have done