Scattered Seed

We had been hearing for a couple of days that it would be a bad weekend, so when Saturday morning came, we decided to get our errands done and get back home. We headed out to Pine Valley for our tree, pre-cut this year. It didn’t seem that we would have the opportunity in the near future to plant a live one like we did last year, and we really didn’t want to put up the artificial. With that stuffed into the back of the PT Cruiser, we stopped for groceries and meds, and headed home. I spent a good amount of time filling the bird feeders, and moving several closer to the house for accessibility. I stuffed the suet feeder, and set out a cob of corn for the blue jays. Towards evening we began watching for snowfall, and had a little bit before bedtime. Getting up this morning we found yesterdays footprints had been filled in, the car had a light covering of snow, but nothing like we had expected. Midmorning there was some rain, icy pellets, and a light snow, but I think our storm has fizzled out. At least it is pretty and gets one in the spirit of Christmas. Dad brought up the decorations for the tree, and we spent the morning in that endeavor, listening to the Sonos Handbell Ensemble, and the Christmas CD that Martin’s parents sent us. I spent the time thinking about each ornament or decoration, trying to remember its origin. Dad also brought out the ceramic manger scene that was a gift from Bob and Alice. I don’t remember ever displaying it. With all the decorating done, I pulled out my recipe book and started making the date-pinwheel cookies that Dad likes. He has already been celebrating Christmas with his remote-controlled tank, chosen and ordered and opened by him already. Martha is not keen on it, nor are the cats. They have chosen to spend this weekend all together on our bed, away from the strange tree, and battletank pellets. It has been a good weekend for bird-watching though. The yellow-bellied sapsucker returned, there was a rare (for me) American tree sparrow, and my first common redpoll, along with all the usual visitors. Perhaps anticipating a storm that never really happened brought them in.