December 2, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

I felt better this past week, so I did get the Christmas cards finished! 

Brought them down to the mail for today.

Besides laundry and cooking, that was the bigger project I finished.  Early for me to get cards out, too.  Whoohoo!

There's a flock of little birds who come every day now...

...and I've seen the one lone partridge here and there.

But one day I noticed these dark lumps in the snow.

Yes!  Partridges!

Since there's not enough snow for them to dig a cave for the whole flock, they were each separately digging down to be more than half buried in the snow we do have to stay warm.

This is why I hate brown winters.  It is hard on the critters and the plants.  At least when it got so cold so suddenly and has stayed there...we had a bit of snow for their protection this year.  So far. 

Yes, a covey of seven has discovered I put food out for them.

I also noticed someone else must be feeding them, too--down a couple apartments--because I see them gathered over there at times, too.  So glad.  I won't feel as badly if I do leave before spring.

The lone partridge still comes, too.  I've never seen one totally alone all the time before.

I am so happy to be feeding the partridges again this winter.  As long as I am here, right?  And I had leftover seed from last winter in the garage available, too.  (Whatever is left will go to Leah's sister.)  I think I would have loved to have chickens to feed.  That clucking sound they make while they eat just makes me smile.  Always has.  I know these partridges sound similar to chickens as they fill their bellies out there. :)

Anyways, some photos from Leah.  A few are older.  The boys at a playground before it snowed.

Leah forgot to send me the pictures (and videos) from Ian's school program.

How many times have those of you with kids and grandkids watched programs like this in school gyms?  :)

Ian is center front with blue shirt.

This program was for Veterans Day.

After the program--Liam and Ian.

Meanwhile--apartment progress.  Leah installed some shelves in the back of the maintenance room.  Nice!

The new round mirror in the bathroom!!  I love it!!

The cleaners came on Monday.  All the white dust is gone!  Dagan and Leah unfolded the bigger living room rug. 

It is a Monet style abstract with all kinds of colors!  Oh, and it will be turned to fit the length of the living room.

The red chair arrived, too, on Friday!

Looks more pinkish, but it's a pale burgundy.

Not too much snow in the living room window well.

Now that everything is clean, Leah put in the racks and cutting board that came with my kitchen sink.

Bottom rack and a drying rack that's half-size.  So exciting!  I love this sink!

Two other matching rugs to the living room rug are unrolled upside-down to flatten out in the studio.  The one on the left will go in front of the washer and dryer.  The one on the right will go in front of the kitchenette.

Even less snow in the studio window well that faces north.  They look so clean and shiny!

As I felt better during the week I got caught up on the necessities--laundry and food, mainly.  Not even caught up on letters!  But having the Christmas cards in the mail is fantastic!  Now I am free to use my spoons for some fun stuff in the studio...and letters.  And I have a covey of partridges here a few times a day.  I wonder if these have been here in past winters.  Possibly.  Because they know to hang around nearby because I feed them more than once a day when it is below freezing like it has been and I do put out extra seed.  If I have to be here another winter...they make it totally worthwhile. :) :)

Allie is waiting for me to get done at the table.  

Cats get so cuddly when it gets really cold out--lol!  She spends a lot more time with me whenever I'm in my chair.  When it's in the single digits there can't help but be a chilly waft of air across the floor.  I become her human hot water bottle--lol!

Well, December already.  Christmas is around the corner.  I really need some Christmas cheer this year.  Less news.  More cheer.  ;)  Or murder mysteries...where they always get the bad guys.  Yes!  I am almost done with five seasons of Nordic Murders.  Two more episodes to go.  Will be sad when it is done.  I'm sure I can find something else to watch in my probably thousands of shows I have saved on various streaming services--ROFL!  It's not like I don't have an overabundance to choose from.  And then every year I watch It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story.  Ahhh!  Love this time of year.  (Just need to stay away from much news--lol!)  

That's it for this week.  Blessings and joy to you.  :)