Being Grateful for Birds

Running errands this past year has taken on a much different rhythm. I really need to get more walking in, and I intend to, but for now it seems I just drive from place to place – and wait.

I started out my day early and achy, bothered by the wind and the massive weather change over the last 48 hours. It was +38°F when I went to bed last night! That’s after a low of 9°F a few night ago. Good grief.

I’m fine with the warmer temperatures. It’s the wind and roller coaster barometer that play havoc with my body.

Anyway, a large mug of steaming black coffee gave me a boost, and sipping it while chickadees swooped and dove artfully around the bird feeder outside my bedroom window raised my spirits substantially.

I had to smile in spite of myself at how much the birds were obviously enjoying the lift and movement the lively breeze offered.

Following the dizzy routes of eager chickadees, sparrows and the occasional nuthatch as they rode the air currents between the deck and the tree line was a nice way to start my day.

Eventually though, I got myself moving and headed out to run errands, although “run” probably doesn’t apply. Daylight is limited and I’d need to be finished and tucked safely back indoors by 4:00pm.

My first stop was the grocery pick-up parking lot, where I dutifully called and gave them my name … and waited.

Of course, I had both dachshunds with me, which adds its own entertainment. It’s hard to be truly bored with such company. ❤️

I love how different their personalities are. When we are parked, Baxter spends his time vigilantly guarding the car from strangers, popping from seat to seat, on alert for intruders. He only barks if they foolishly come too close to the window – and will stop on request. Well, most of the time. 😉 While traveling, he’s off-duty and generally sound asleep.

Rhonda, who thinks all people are her best friends; albeit as yet un-met, is quietly observant.

People are no threat to her. Her interest is usually directed more towards the ground, bushes and trees nearby. Surely a rabbit will pop out any second. On a windy day like this, even a scrap of paper blowing along the asphalt is suspect and bears close inspection.

When Baxter suddenly went dead silent and froze, and my sweet Rhonda vibrated under my hand with a deep, rumbling growl, I quickly pulled my attention from the grocery store door.

Turning to glance the direction both dogs were laser-focused, I smiled in delight. A cow moose was just emerging from the trees behind the store. Only about 100 feet away, she was a large, healthy girl, not at all concerned by the cars in the parking lot as she nibbled bare tree branches.

Baxter was perfectly happy to watch in quiet interest from inside the car. He’s had experience with moose and knows better than to mess with them or even draw their attention to himself.

Ronni, on the other hand, was straining with her nose to the 2” crack at the top of the window. She had the scent and was absolutely entranced. Ronni has seen quite a few moose in her 2 1/2 years. Her response is always the same – olfactory senses going non-stop as she takes it all in.

Sorry sweetie – this one’s just a bit too big for you to take on! I’m pretty sure Ronni was thinking “Give me a chance, Mom. Really! Death from the ankles down!”

About then, the grocery delivery boy pushed the cart noisily out the door and towards our vehicle. It was enough to have the moose eyeing him balefully and then calmly ambling back the way she’d come.

One errand down, two to go. ☑️

Sitting in line at the drive-through pharmacy at Walgreens was my next stop. I usually bring my Kindle along, so I can listen to an Audible book or play games.

Drive-through pharmacies have really gained in popularity this past year. Go figure.

Today, since the pharmacy wait was obviously going to be a long one and I had the dogs with me, there was the added challenge of making sure the groceries I’d just added to the back of the vehicle stayed intact and unmolested.

A package of fresh, deli-sliced roast beef and a pair of dachshunds are a combination custom-made for trouble. Well mannered in most respects, it would just be too much to ask of them, even with me sitting right there.

I figured my only option was to lock either the dogs or the groceries up in the dog kennel. The groceries, of course, lost the toss and ended up in jail – much to the disappointment of the dachshunds. 😉

Walgreens pharmacy was still on lunch break when I arrived and I was 8th in line. Sigh.

I reclined the driver’s seat a little, put the car in park, and pulled out my Audible book. With no people walking around, Baxter was quickly bored and sound asleep. Ronni, it seems, had the watch and was tracking a trio of nearby ravens with quiet intensity. Prey! Very active prey!

Her interest caught my attention, and I quickly found myself joining her and chuckling over the big birds’ antics. Very much akin to the tiny chickadees I’d watched at dawn, these massive, glossy black ravens were enjoying playing in the very active air.

The aerial acrobatics kept both of us entertained as the line of cars crept slowly forward. I was almost sorry when I reached the window.

One more line to go. Happily, the line for the drive-thru at the bank was only two cars long and business was quickly dispatched.

Tired and hungry at this point, I eyed the nearby line for the drive-through at Taco Bell. Easily twelve cars. I shook my head, rolled my eyes and headed for home. A bowl of soup sounded just fine.

Less than an hour later, I was back to watching chickadees at my bird-feeder, with the sun now going down rather than coming up. I had a dog (Ronni) napping on my lap and a cup of soup warming my hands. Life could be worse.

And still … an entire afternoon of running errands – and I never got out of my car. I really want life to get back to normal.

In a Holding Pattern

I feel like an airplane pilot, denied permission to land after a long flight. Being forced to circle the airport endlessly, not knowing when I might be allowed to complete my flight and come to a rolling stop.

I find I suddenly want the flight to be over. I want off this dang plane. I want so badly to get on with my life. But here I hover – my life loosely and carelessly held in the haphazard grip of “government”.

I was actually becoming comfortable with hunker down, shelter in place or whatever it’s being called today – it was nothing new anymore, and while it was bad enough when there was really no end to the pandemic in sight, at least I knew what to do. Knit, spin, write, play with dachshunds, repeat.

My “job” was to do nothing to make more work for our hospitals and frontline healthcare personnel. I’d stay home. My safety was in my own hands.

But last week, my bubble of relative tranquility popped. Now there is a faint light at the edges of the bog I’m mired in and it makes me want to climb the walls.

Is it true? First reports of vaccine eligibility in Alaska seemed reasonable; first, in early January would be frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff.

Then, in a couple of weeks, seniors age 75 and over and those 65 and over with serious health issues, plus essential workers (fire, police, EMTS).

After that, all 65+ over and any age with high-risk health issues would be next, along with community essential workers (teachers, grocery store workers, postal workers, etc.).

They had special programs lined up for our rural native villages far from health services, which I fully approved. The military, of course, has a totally separate vaccine program.

I was ready to wait my turn, and with appointment in hand, will offer my arm up for poking when my age group is contacted. All very organized.

Imagine my surprise when Channel 2 News announced, days ago, that Alaska’s vaccination schedule was now open for reservations for “everyone 65 and over as well as any age with other health issues” … all 90,000+ plus of us, all fighting for spots in line. There are NOT that many vaccines. I expect chaos.

Dang, it could have gone so smoothly, but someone got greedy. Someone with power and money tossed around enough of both to turn a well-planned vaccine roll-out into a probable cluster-fisk.

I don’t intend to stand in 10-hour lines or miles long vehicle lines. I’m unsure what to expect.

I’d love to see Jerry vaccinated ASAP, as he’s not only a senior, but obese, diabetic and has hypertension and a TBI. But we don’t want to find out we took vaccines away from some nurse or respiratory therapist or COVID ward clerk or attendant.

Then again, according to the news (??), a lot of healthcare people are declining the vaccine. Not very helpful, IMO, since they will need ongoing testing and be an ongoing drain on the healthcare system whether they get sick or just test positive and need to stay home. They will also be a source of possible transmission, and well … it just adds fuel to those who are already in doubt.

So, I hover in my curious, self imposed holding pattern. Unsure of my surroundings or my future. Waiting for clarity I can hang my future on.

Are they really vaccinating anyone 65+ starting on January 11th? Or is this more fake or maybe just partially correct news again? Will there be an “update” again tomorrow? Another delay?

Can I count on getting the follow-up vaccine in a timely manner? This also now seems up in the air, in spite of pretty clear indications that the timing of the second shot is important for best efficacy.

I honestly haven’t felt this uneasy and conflicted since early on in the pandemic.

Should I make appointments? Should I wait? Who should I listen to? I’d like to know more before I line my little virtual airplane up with the vaccine runway , dip my nose, adjust my flaps and commit to landing.

But first, I must apologize …

I have always had an upbeat, enthusiastic “Starting out the new year” blog in my head, ready to bubble out with the firecrackers and champagne.

This isn’t it. 😖 I’m hoping everything will settle down soon and I can relax and, setting all else aside, create the fun and magic I usually feel as we leave the old year behind and look, with brave or maybe tremulous hearts and minds – towards the new and untried 2021.

I have no expectations. But I have hopes.

Mother Nature Strikes Again

My cheerful little holiday-themed bird feeder took a bit of a hit from Mother Nature last night.

There was quite a breeze all day yesterday, but my ornaments seemed to be holding their own through it, dancing and waving merrily.

I’ll admit, I really enjoy watching the birds dart in and out, oblivious to the sparkle and movement. I’m so glad I created this little piece of Christmas spirit for myself.

Dancing Christmas ornaments

The forecast for last night was for even higher winds, so I went to bed with fingers crossed, hoping for the best.

Having listened to the wind in the trees all night, accompanied by the sound of my snow shovel sliding across the deck and a few other unidentifiable bumps and bangs, I was honestly surprised to find ANY of my delicate Christmas decorations anywhere to be seen this morning.

Surprisingly, some were still clinging tenaciously to their assigned twigs and branches. Even more surprising was how many of the bubble-round, light-weight glass ornaments that did fall managed to only drop harmlessly to the deck, where they lay, softly cushioned by snow, awaiting retrieval.

My poor little Christmas tree didn’t fare real well either, vaguely resembling a drunken sailor after a night on the town. It had acquired a substantial list to port. Oh well, at least it was still on the deck. 🎄

  • Fallen, but safe.
  • Poor tilted tree

A few ornaments probably won’t be rediscovered until next summer, when the snow in the yard is gone and grass is growing … if then. Who knows; some lucky raven might have a shiny new bauble brightening up its nest next spring. Re-use, recycle, re-imagine, right?

My three wooden dachshund ornaments, of course, hung on tight through the night and were none the worse for their windy ride.

Temperatures rose into the upper 30s today, and much of the snow has melted off the deck, but I still waited until late afternoon to do more than set the tree back upright, with a little twine giving it added support, just in case.

Finally, even though the breeze remained stiff, I went ahead and re-dressed the tree in its glittery globes. There is plenty of seed set out for the birds – my Christmas gift to myself, I suppose. Hopefully, it will all stay upright and cheery (and full of chickadees) through the rest of the week.

There is snow once again in the forecast – and I believe I’m looking forward to it. I do love the look of a nicely dressed and flocked Christmas tree.

I can hardly wait to see what my fanciful holiday bird feeder looks like tomorrow morning. ❄️☃️❄️

Conflicting Feelings

Winter Solstice always brings with it conflicting feelings.

It’s the shortest “day” of the year … a bit of a misnomer since we have the same 24 hours as any other day to fumble through, but minimal day-LIGHT to assist us along our way.

Here in my little corner of dark, snowy Alaska, the sun rose (officially) at 10:18 am this morning. It was overcast and threatened to spit snow at us for the short five hours and fifteen minutes of supposed “daylight” we were treated to, with a brisk breeze making the relatively balmy 29° temps feel significantly colder.

I took advantage of our brief window of daylight today to drive the snow-covered road to town to pick up our grocery order and check our mailbox at the local UPS Store.

This is Ronni’s biggest social outing of the week these days, and I believe the hard-working employees at the UPS Store enjoy her brief, cheerful “therapy” visits as much as Rhonda does. ❤️

Ronni wore her prettiest Christmas finery for her visit today. She’s really a hoot to watch. With permission, I put Ronni on a 15’ leash and she frolicked from employee to employee behind the counters for quick pets, kisses and belly-rubber-dubbers.

Ready to visit in her festive holiday attire 💜💚

We were back home in just over an hour, and it’s well we didn’t tarry. The sun, such as it was, bid us a dim adieu at 3:34 pm, just as the wind began picking up speed. Wind and sleet … oh boy.

I fear for the tiny ornaments on my cheery Christmas-themed bird feeder, totally exposed to the elements as it is on the deck. It’s too dark outside to see how it’s faring – and since the wind is only predicted to increase overnight, there is little to do except cross my fingers and wait for morning.

Right now, I’m content to spend what’s left of this Winter Solstice tucked in with a mug of cocoa, a pair of dachshunds and a good Christmas movie.

There is, of course, a bright side to being Winter Solstice today. TOMORROW, we start gaining daylight again – just a bit more each day.

Today is the “hump day” of winter in Alaska (please don’t attempt to confuse me with facts – I know “winter” technically starts today, too, and continues until mid-March, but actual daylight hours are all I care about!).

Surely, Spring must be right around the corner.