making people happy

So far, I'm doing pretty well today. I got a tremendously nice email from A, just thrilled by the flowers I'd arranged to have show up at her work. :-)

And I've made a huge number of birds happy too, by putting out a lot of extra seed on top of the sleet. I came into the bedroom just now and there were over a dozen doves outside, as well as a good number of juncos and a tit, feasting.

'Bedroom'? Well, yes, I'm at home today. And let me say this. I love snow. I really, really love snow. It's beautiful, it's quiet, it's cold. Also important, I can almost always drive in it.

Sleet, now. Sleet I am quickly coming to hate. because it's like sand. Bazillions of tiny, hard, loose grains that when packed down get really slick. I was out for about an hour and a half this morning, and I've got about two-thirds of my driveway cleared. As soon as my late breakfast has had a little time to digest, I'll go do the rest and see if I can get the car to the street.

I set up the trainer for my bike last night and tried it out this morning. Definitely not as fun as cycling out in the world, but still a good way to get a little blood moving. I'm keeping the cats in the bedroom while I use it, though. I hate to think what might happen if an inquisitive paw got caught in a bicycle wheel.

update

Well, the boardwalk is clear now: there's a path from my door out to the car. Next step is clearing the last bit from the car to the road, but I think I'm going to wait on that until after another break. redactrice was able to get out (some people and their fancy-dancy 4WD! ;-), but she slid a good bit going down The Big Hill and called from work to leave a message saying that it hadn't been easy getting up the hills on the other side, out to the main road, so I probably should stay put even if I got the drive cleared, at least until the streets have been plowed and gritted once or twice.

The snow/ice sheet outside has provided evidence (little black empty seed shells) that *finally* someone has caught on to the net bag filled with thistle seed! Good--eat up birdies!

done digging

Well, I shoveled the rest of the driveway and a bit of the road (so that if the plows ever come, there's less for them to throw back in my drive). I also took a number of photos of the house in the snow, partly for remembrance and partly in case they're useful for the realtor (I'm sure they'll say 'No, no one wants to be reminded it might snow!') And I took pictures of birdies! I'll put all of them up later, assuming I don't just pass out. I'm not exhausted, but pleasantly tired and it's soporifically warm and cozy inside.