Back to Icy

When I opened the drapes over the patio door this morning I wasn't surprised to see that the birdbath was iced over again. It's supposed to be highs in the 20s or 30s but barely above freezing and lows in the teens for the next week.

 

As I started to make my lunch, I noticed this lineup of Mourning Doves on the fence just outside the kitchen window. When I saw them, they were all four hunched up against the cold, but by the time I had the camera ready the one closest to the house had stood up and was stretching its wings. Goofball.

 

I noticed yesterday that the downspout from the corner of the house had blown down the lawn again. There are supposed to be screws holding the bottom part onto the part on the side of the house but, over time, first one and then the other screw has disappeared. I think the pest nerd (that's what they call themselves, really) tripped over it on his last inspection around the house and the last screw got lost. A few weeks ago my knitting pal MW stopped over and advised me to get a threaded rod to put through the screw holes and nuts for the ends. It's been on my mind but I didn't know how big a rod or how I'd cut it to fit so I cast that idea aside. Until this morning, when I thought about cutting out part of a wire hanger, bending one end, and then shoving it through the holes, and bending the other end to hold it in place. So that's what I did. It occurred to me that I'd done a Hank repair. My dad fixed things creatively. I think I take after him. I'm just glad it's fixed.

 

Today's flower was Daffodil. It was easy to draw and color and reminds me that eventually spring will come around again.

 

After the first critique run-through for Monday's Zoom, I spent an hour or so writing the March 1 writing progress email newsletter. It's very brag-y but I'm so excited about the things that happened in February I have to tell about them. My only regret is that I didn't do a special mailing to alert them about the Freebie Friday promo. Missed an opportunity there, didn't I?

I spent some phone time trying to get roommates organized for The Clearing in October. There are a couple people I'd like to room with but don't want to be in the large dorm where there's little room for writing. I think we got it ironed out. October's a long way off but registration is this coming week and places in the Women's Writing Retreat fill up fast.

 --Barbara