We have had a couple of days of ferocious wind. It howled like a banshee through the small, unsealed spaces next to my door. After I had gone to bed, I kept hearing something banging against the house or the window, but I was too tired to get up and figure out what it was. The wind had slipped away by morning, leaving us with temperatures barely above freezing. There was a flurry of wildlife outside at my feeders and feeding off the ground where I had also scattered seed. I was concerned because I had not seen many birds here, other than house sparrows, since I moved in just over a month ago; but the word has gotten out apparently as the housefinches showed up about a week ago. I have European collared doves, European starlings, Northern flickers, and Blue jays. I am certain to see a Downy woodpecker at some point. Squirrels and cottontail bunnies are partaking of my offerings as well. I have seen a robin drinking from the birdbath on several occasions.
I did my own scurrying about this morning, along with several other people getting last minute supplies at the grocery store. A substantial snowstorm is moving in and the clouds are white. The air smells like snow. While I do not like snow, I appreciate the quiet that it brings. I am grateful that I have nowhere I must go and I can hunker down here with my warm blankets and my sweet new kitten to keep me company. This calm before the storm when there is nothing left to do but gaze out at the sky, is winter’s gift. Of course I have plenty to do, but nothing is more important than sitting here for a while in perfect presence. The calm before the storm is calming me. Soon the ground will be covered in a quilt made of snow and peace will reign here for a few hours.
