They're Baaaack!

The birds are back, as mysteriously as they left. With a turtle dove added. The flock of robins is happy in the cow pasture. I fed the cows the last scraps of fruits and veggies this morning. There's a new young cow (half-grown) bringing the little herd up to five. Iris and Maggie are still rambunctious.

It seems like a week that I've been getting ready to leave, longer than that if you calculate pants hemmed, dry cleaning, lists, cat care and all that good stuff.

The cats know something is up and are bearing up pretty well. Always sad when one's adult's desert one for an unknown period of time. I feel sorry for Thisbe, so sad and sensitive.

My writing group isn't crazy about the last scene. In a sense, it's become drudgery. Last week was fun. Rewriting in store. I'm just feeling my way through the novel, even though I know what's going to happen.

I should hear from a publisher, an agent and ABNA while I'm gone. Could there be good news? Maybe the census will call and tell us we're hired.

Or will sucking it up be required yet again?

Back on the 20th. Stay tuned.

The Assyrian Swept Down Like The Wolf on the Fold

We have "lost" all of our birds. There's just one lone woodpecker occasionally at the suet. It's been like this all week. I suspect a big hawk visited the yard and made off with one of the denizens, maybe even a squirrel.

This happens periodically and the birds just disappear for a while. No idea where they go. I really miss seeing Mr. and Mrs. Finch eating seeds and all the little nuthatches, chicadees, the downy and hairy woodpeckers, the new flicker, the tufted titmice, the cardinal--my whole gang. It's sad.

Once when we lived in Wellesley a big hawk swooped down and carried off a squirrel. We saw it happen here to a bluejay. Causes extreme terror. My poor little critters.

At least our cats, who each tip the scale at 14 pounds are way too porky to be hauled off. They stay inside, anyway, except that Thisbe takes the air on the porch for a minute or two on a nice day.

As of Tuesday, I won't be blogging for 11 days as we take a long-delayed vacation, a real one, not just the quickie weekend kind. On the cheap, as usual.

The cats have a special sitter from the vet's office who can administer pills and injections. The instructions cover more than one page.

Grapeshot