SMELLS LIKE A HEADACHE

A few weeks ago my husband Steven surprised me with over a dozen hyacinth plants. They hadn’t bloomed yet so you could only see the purple crown of the flower poking out from the center of the leaves.

“They’re going to be beautiful!” I said as I looked over at him feeling concerned. “But aren’t you and Alex allergic to them?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I was going to get you daffodils but they didn’t have any and I know how much you like these, too. I figured if we planted them far enough away from the house they would look great and we wouldn’t be able to smell them from the house.”

Steven picked up the box that the plants were in. “Let’s go in the backyard so you can find a spot for them.”

We headed out through the kitchen door. After scanning the yard we decided on a spot where I could still see them from the kitchen window but far enough away that we were pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to smell them.

Steven placed the box down on the ground and went to the garage to get a shovel. While he was gone I grabbed my phone to see what kind of care they would need.

When Steven came back with the shovel and a container of plant food I was still scrolling through my phone. “They don’t like a lot of water.” I looked at Steven and smiled. “That’s good because you know I have weak watering skills.”

Steven laughed as he started to dig a hole. “Yes, you do.”

I was still scrolling while Steven kept digging. “Did you also know hyacinths are deer resistant?”

Steven nodded his head as he dug the shovel into the ground again. “That’s another reason I picked them.”

The deer population in our neighborhood is huge.

Steven finished making the hole and went and got our watering can. Filling it up before adding a few scoops of plant food. He filled the hole with some water before taking the plants out of the containers and placing them in the wet earth. “These are suppose to be planted in the fall.” he said. “So you might not get a bloom this year.”

I knelt down next to him. “But they look like they’re ready to pop any minute!”

“They could.” he was still arranging them in the hole before placing the dirt around them. “That’s why I gave them some plant food to help them out.”

Once he was finished planting them we both stood up to admire our new hyacinth patch.

Weeks later I was looking out my kitchen window when I saw the purple star shaped flowers had bloomed.

“The hyacinths are blooming!” I cried.

Steven and my son Alex came into the kitchen. I was pointing out the kitchen window. “They’re blooming!”

I lead the way out the kitchen door to admire them from the deck. We weren’t out for more than a moment when their heavy fragrance reached us. “Uh, oh!” I looked over at Steven and Alex. “I guess we didn’t plant them far enough.” I slowly inhaled. “They do smell nice though.” I looked over at them. “Don’t they?”

Alex looked over at me, his eyes already looking watery. “They are pretty but they smell like a headache to me.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed.

“Don’t be. I’m glad you like them.” he began walking towards the kitchen door. “I’ll just be enjoying them from inside the house for the next couple of weeks.”

I watched as Alex disappeared into the house before looking over at Steven. “I really do love them.”

“I’m glad.” He sniffled and leaned over to kiss my forehead. “But I’m with Alex on loving them from inside the house.”

NEVER SHOP ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

“I have to run to the grocery store!” I called from the front door. “I forgot the sour cream that goes with dinner!”

“Okay, see you in a minute!” My son Alex called from his room.

Forty minutes later I returned, carrying a potted orchid. The few flowers that had already bloomed were a beautiful shade of purple with a half-dozen buds waiting to open.

Alex met me at the door. “Well, that doesn’t look like sour cream.” he laughed.

I pointed over my shoulder as I went into the living room to put the flower in my “when I buy an orchid this is the spot it likes” place. “The bags are in the trunk.” I began adjusting the orchid so that I’d be able to see the blooms when I was sitting on the couch. “Perfect!” I said as I stepped back to enjoy my new addition.

Alex came in carrying several plastic bags. “I thought you were just going to get sour cream?” he placed the bags on the kitchen counter and began unloading them.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Once I was in there I kept remembering other things I needed so…”

Alex pulled out a box of Russell Stover candies and held it up to me. “I can see that.”

“Hey, every once in a while I feel like a little piece of chocolate okay?” I took the box from him and tossed it on the counter.

“Fine with me.” Alex laughed. “I’m just surprised with the interesting list of things you got when you were only going out for sour cream.” He handed me two bricks of cheddar cheese.

“Those are for snacks after dinner.” I opened the refrigerator and placed them in the drawer. “Weren’t you the one who asked me to get cheese a few days ago?”

“I was, when you bought crackers last week but there was nothing to put on them.”

“See? I remembered and you’re welcome.” I went back over to the bags and pulled out a half gallon of strawberry ice cream. “This is for dessert.” I opened the freezer. “I thought we could drizzle some chocolate sauce on it.”

“Sounds good.” Alex peeked in the bag. “Did you remember to get sour cream?”

I looked around on the counter. “I’m positive I did.” I looked over at him. “Did you get all the bags from the car?” I began gathering up the empty grocery bags and realized there was still something in one of them. “Thank goodness.” I said as I pulled the container of sour cream out of it. “I was afraid I was going to have to go back to the store.”

Alex laughed again as he looked at the box of chocolate on the counter. “I’m pretty sure I know why they say you should never shop on an empty stomach.”

I scooped the box of chocolates off the counter. “I’m not saying you aren’t right but when I open this box I’m sure you’ll want me to share.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

He walked over to the orchid. “We haven’t had one of these in a long time.” He gently touched the flower.

I shook my head as I walked over to where he was standing. “There was just something about that one that said it needed to come home with me.” I looked over at Alex. “Every once in a while you just need to treat yourself to something beautiful.”

Alex looked at the box of chocolates tucked under my arm.“And something delicious.”

I smiled as I put the box on the coffee table. “And delicious.”

NEEDLEWORK

My son Alex came into the living room where I was sitting on the couch holding a plastic bag with a half finished needlepoint project inside.

Alex’s eyebrows went up. “Are you starting to do your needlework again?”

I nodded my head as I pulled the canvas out of the bag. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.” I placed the canvas next to me and pulled out the needle and thread. “It’s time I go back to doing some of the hobbies I’ve always enjoyed.” I looked over at him. “I honestly don’t know why I stopped everything.”

“I’m so proud of you!” Alex was smiling. “For over the past year all you’ve done is watch the news on your phone and yell at it.” He patted me on the top of the head. “I’m glad you’re moving on to something that’s more calming for you again.”

I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Thanks. I’m trying.”
I adjusted the pillows behind me and settled myself into them. As I was threading a piece of blue thread through the needle I began to realize just how much I missed it. I got the thread through on the first try. “I wasn’t reading as many books as I used to. I stopped all my needlework. I was becoming obsessed with the news!”

Alex nodded as he sat down in the chair across from me. “I know! I tried to tell you. But I couldn’t get you to put your phone down.”

“I know.” I sighed. “It took me a while but I’m finally hearing what you were saying to me.” I smiled over at him as I held up the canvas and put my first stitch in, feeling the smooth flow of the needle as I began filling the canvas with thread.

“Now that the weather is getting nicer you’ll be able to sit on the back porch and do your needlepoint while you watch the birds at the feeders and throw peanuts to the chipmunks.” Alex reminded me. “Remember how much you liked doing that too.”

I sighed as I remembered. “I do love this time of year when it starts getting warmer out and all the little critters begin running around the yard.” I looked over at him and smiled. “Summer’s just around the corner too!”

“That’s right.”

We sat there quietly as I got in the rhythm of the needle. After a few minutes I put my needlepoint piece down and reached over to grab the television remote from the coffee table.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked looking concerned. “I thought you were going to work on your needlework?”

“I am.” I clicked the television on and went to my favorite news station before putting the remote back on the table and picking up my needlepoint again. “But I just realized that there’s no reason I can’t do both!”

Alex got up shaking his head as he looked over at the television. “Try not to yell too loud.”

Shaking my head I looked over at him and smiled. “I honestly can’t promise you that.” I settled back into the cushions and began stitching again.

GOLD MEDAL WORRIER

I’d just come back from the grocery store and my son Alex met me at the door to take the bags from my hands.

“You’ll be happy to know I went by the horse farm and all three horses are standing up and looking fine.” I said as I followed Alex into the kitchen and watched as he put the bags on the counter.

“That’s good to know.” he said as he peeked in the bags to see what I’d gotten.

I stood next to him unloading the bags. “I know. Remember how worried we were yesterday when we saw one of the horses laying on its side while the other stood over him looking concerned?”
“Okay, well I’m not sure I’d say I could see concern on the horses face from the car, but I’ll go along with that.” Alex took the yogurts out of the bag and was putting them in the refrigerator.

“Well, I don’t know about you but I was up half the night worried about him.” I handed Alex the peppers and carrots to put in the fridge. “Did you know that if they lay on their side for too long they could die!”

“I didn’t know that.” he tossed the vegetable in the drawer. “But I actually forgot all about them until you just mentioned it.”

“Are you serious?” I shook my head.

Alex patted me on the shoulder. “You worry too much.”

“What are you talking about? The horse clearly looked like it was in distress!”

“Or he was taking a nap and his friend was keeping him company.” Alex opened the cabinet to put a loaf of bread away.

“Well, I know I feel better now that I’ve seen all of them up and wandering around the field again.”

“I’m glad. One less thing for you to worry about.”

“Exactly.” I looked out the window at our birdbath where a few birds were sitting on the edge. “Oh no! I haven’t put water in the bird bath.” I hadn’t finished unloading the groceries as I headed for the back door. “I better go out there now before they get upset.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re not upset.” Alex called to me as he continued unloading the groceries

Once I was back inside I looked around the now empty counter top. “Thanks for putting everything away for me.”

“You’re welcome.” Alex was leaned against the counter eating one of the yogurts. “Are they still mad at you?” Alex pointed his spoon over his shoulder at the birds in the back yard.

“Nope, I don’t think so. Not only did I fill the birdbath but I also topped off the feeders.” I looked at the kitchen window and could see a chipmunk scurrying around the back yard. “Oh my gosh! I forgot all about you.” I called to him. “I better get the peanuts out for him!” I went over to the cabinet where I had a brand new bag waiting for him. “I’m glad I thought to get this the other day.” I pulled the bag out of the cabinet and held it up for Alex to see.

“You know if they ever made worrying an Olympic sport…”

I smiled as I interrupted him. “I bet I’d bring home the gold!”

IT’S ALL IN THE STRETCH

My son Alex and I were on a walk when Alex looked over at me. “Are you limping?”

I stopped for a moment. “You know, I am.” I began walking again trying not to limp. “My hip’s been bothering me.”

“What caused that?”

“I guess my bursitis is acting up.” I started to laugh. “I think I just uttered an ‘I’m so old’ sentence!”

“What are you talking about?” Alex slowed down our pace to help me out. “I’ve had bursitis before, in both my shoulders. Remember?”

“Oh, my gosh! I forgot.” I looked over at him. “That makes me feel so much better!”

Alex started to laugh. “Okay.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

We were going to cross the street and I actually had to stop a moment to think how I was going to step off the curb without causing any pain.

“I meant that I thought bursitis was something only old people get.” I could feel the pinch in the hip as I stepped down but it quickly let up.

“Have you been doing the stretches physical therapy gave you the last time you had it?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “Once they did a few cupping sessions on the outside of my thigh it went away. So I never gave it another thought.”

“Big mistake.” Alex said shaking his head.

I stopped a moment to rub my hip but also to admire a small bed of purple crocuses in one of our neighbors front yards. “I’m realizing that now.”

We were at the bottom of one of the hills in our neighborhood. I looked up at the steep incline. “Well, this should be interesting.”

Alex looked concerned. “Do you want to turn around and go back?”

“No.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you’re suppose to rest when you have a flair up but for some reason I feel better when I keep moving.”

“I’m telling you you need to start doing the stretches again.”

We began walking up the hill but halfway up I stopped. “Give me a second.”

I went over to a telephone pole and leaned against it while I swung my leg from side to side. After a few moments of doing that I reached behind me grabbing the toe of my foot and pulling up as far as I could pull it, holding it like that for a few moments before dropping it back to the ground. I added in a few squats, still holding on to the telephone pole for balance, before standing back up. I did a quick test by moving my hips side to side to see if the stretching had helped. “That feels so much better!” I looked over at Alex. “You’re right it is all about the stretching!”

Alex was looking around the neighborhood to see if anyone had been watching me. As we headed back up the hall Alex looked over at me. “Next time maybe you could do your stretches before we leave the house?”

SPRINGTIME

I was standing in the middle of the dining room looking around when my son Alex came in. “What are you doing?” he asked.

I sighed. “Thinking about spring cleaning this weekend.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Alex couldn’t help but smile. “It’s the first day of spring this weekend.”

I sighed again. “Yeah.”

Alex looked confused. “You’ve been saying you can’t wait until spring comes ever since you took the Christmas tree down! What’s the matter?”

“Oh, I’ve been looking forward to spring. Just not the spring cleaning.” I could see a thin layer of dust on the side table.

“You clean all the time.” Alex said. “In fact, weren’t you the one who used to use disinfectant wipes on the groceries when you’d bring them in from the store?”

“Those sure were crazy times.” I shook my head. “But that was Covid cleaning. This is totally different. It’s spring cleaning.”

I opened one of the dining room windows and pointed to the windowsill. “See how dirty this is?” There was a chilly breeze coming in but it was a beautiful sunny day.

Alex came over and looked. “That’s pretty dirty.”

“That’s from months of winter storms.” I nodded my head. “Now multiply that with how many windows we have.”

I closed the window, sat down at the dining room table and began rubbing my forehead. “Then it’s closets and kitchen draws and cabinets! Not to mention all the baseboard and doors that need to be wiped down.” I leaned my head back. “All I’ve been doing this past year is clean. I just don’t want to clean anymore. Especially not spring cleaning!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, so don’t.”

I looked at him, I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Really?”

“Sure. Why not?”

I thought about it for a moment. “You know, you’re right! Why not?” I got up and took the kettle from the stove and began to fill it up at the sink. “I’m going to make a nice warm cup of tea, get a cozy sweater on and go sit outside in the sun! That’s how I’m going to celebrate spring!”

Alex came over and patted my on the shoulder. “See. Now don’t you feel better?”

“I really do!” I smiled as I put the kettle on the stove and turned it on.

My husband Steven came into the kitchen. “Isn’t it a beautiful day out?” he asked.

“It sure is!” I went to get a cup of of the cabinet.

He went over to the dining room window and began to open it up. “Why don’t we get some fresh air in here.”

“NO!” I cried. “DON’T!”

Steven stopped midway of opening it. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I’m trying to enjoy the first day of spring!” I said as put my cup down on the counter and went over to the window where I reached over and slowly closed it.

Steven looked over at Alex a confused look on his face.

“If you open the window Mom’s going to see the dirty windowsill and she’s not in the mood for spring cleaning right now.”

“Exactly.” I went over and got a tea bag out of the canister. “I don’t want to feel guilty about not doing any spring cleaning today and the only way that’s going to happen is if we keep the windows closed.”

I turned around and looked at Steven who was now holding his hands up in front of his chest. “Closed windows it is.”

I smiled as I dropped my tea bag in my mug. “Thank you!”

NATURES BIRD FEEDER

“Alex!” I called out to my son. “You have to see this!” I was kneeling on our couch my elbows leaned against the windowsill looking out our window.

Alex came into the living room. “What’s up?”

“You have to see all the robins in our holly tree!”

Dozens of robins were scattered on our front lawn. They’d fly into the holly tree where they’d pull off one of the berries than fly back to the lawn or a tree branch to eat their yummy snack. The holly tree was actually vibrating with action. “It’s like having a bird feeder that I don’t have to fill!”

Another dozen robins were stationed under the tree catching all the berries that were falling to the ground.

“Isn’t that crazy looking?” I look over at Alex. “It’s nature’s bird feeder.”

“They sure are hungry.” Alex agreed. “How come we never see them at the bird feeders?”

I turned around and sat down on the couch then shrugged my shoulders. “I guess they don’t like seeds.”

Alex went into the kitchen. “So besides holly berries what do they eat?”

I picked up my phone, followed him into the kitchen, and leaned against the counter to do a quick search. “Okay, it says here that they like fruit.” I looked over at our fruit bowl sitting on the counter.

Alex looked over and began to laugh. “You’re going to make them a little fruit salad?”

“I’d cut up an apple for them but…” I looked back at Alex. “It’s one of the first times I splurged and got organic.” I pointed to the apples. “They cost a fortune!”

“Hey, I ate one of them the other day.” Alex looked surprised. “I thought they tasted better than usual.”

“You can taste the difference but the robin’s aren’t going to.” I picked up an apple and gave it a quick wash before taking a bite. “They can wait until I go grocery shopping and get the cheaper ones for them.”

I held up the apple as I swallowed the first bite. “Oh my gosh, you can definitely taste the difference!”

“I told you.” Alex looked out the kitchen window. “By the way the bird feeders are empty again.”

“Ugh,” I placed my apple on the counter and headed for the back door. “Keeping these bird feeders filled feels like a full time job!”

Alex came to the back door as I went over to the canister we kept the bird seed in. “Well, now that you’re going to start putting fruit plates out for the robin’s I’m pretty sure you are making it a full time job.”

I sighed as I left the porch and headed for the feeder. “I know.”

“You know who else is going to like the fruit plate?”

I stopped and turned around to look at him. “Who?” I asked feeling a little confused.

“The squirrels.” Alex laughed as he pointed on one that was hanging upside down on one of my feeders trying to get to the last of the seeds.

“They’re the real reason I’m always refilling these things!” I cried as I waved my arms to scare it off the feeder. “Shoo…” I cried.

Nothing more annoying then the blank stare of an unafraid squirrel.

SHRINKING

I’d been near someone who tested positive for Covid so I was now banished to working from home for the next two weeks.

I was sitting at the dining room table when my son Alex came into the room. I quickly pulled my paper mask up over my nose and mouth before going back to work. While I was typing I noticed the mask kept creeping up near my eyes and I would pull it down, only for it to pop back up again.

“Oh my God, this is so annoying!” I tugged the mask back into place.

Alex looked over at me. “When do your test results come back?” he poured some coffee into a mug and went to the refrigerator to get the milk.

“Not soon enough!” I said as I pulled the mask back into place. I looked over at Alex. “Do you think my head is shrinking?”

Alex started to laugh.

“No, I’m serious!” I got up to go to the front hall mirror. Looking at my reflection I moved the mask back into place and pinched the nose guard in place. I looked at the bottom of my mask that now covered my entire neck instead of being tucked under my chin. “When we started this whole mess a year ago I wasn’t having this problem with the masks!”

I sadly looked over at Alex pointing at my face. “But look at me now!”

Alex shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you’re head isn’t shrinking.”

“Well, what about this!” I flipped the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head. The top of the hood flopped over my forehead and almost covered my eyes. “Who’s sweatshirt hood fits like this?”

Alex started to laugh. “I don’t think any of my hoods do that.”

“See! I’m turning into a peanut head!” I turned my head from side to side. “I can’t see a thing!” I folded back part of the hood so I could see. “Who do you know that has to fold a cuff in their hood?”

I turned back to my reflection. “I look ridiculous!” I pushed the hood off my head and went to the linen closet.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked as he followed me to the closet.

“I’m going to see if these masks come in sizes.” I pulled the box of blue surgical masks from the shelf and scanned the box. “Nope. One size seems to fit all.” I tossed the box back on the shelf and looked at Alex.

“Maybe you could try a cloth mask. They might fit better.” he suggested.

“I can’t.” I went across the room and took off my mask. “When this first started I told myself I wasn’t going to make this something fun like matching my masks to my outfits. When this all goes away I don’t want to have a drawer of cute masks that I’d invested in and wouldn’t want to throw away.”

I sat down in the chair and tossed the paper mask onto the coffee table. “So I’m not doing it!” I crossed my arms and leaned back in the chair.

Alex shook his head. “It’s up to you Peanut Head.”

PAW PRINTS

I grabbed my bags for work and walked out the front door. The smell hit me like a ton of bricks. “Skunk!” My eyes began to water as I looked around to see if he was still nearby.

I quickly went back inside dropping my bags to the floor.

My son Alex was standing near the front door. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

I lifted the sleeve of my coat up to my nose and took a sniff. “A skunk got scared in our front yard.” I wiped the tear that was falling down my cheek. “I swear the smell is on me!” I took the end of my hair and brought it up to my nose. “I can’t tell if it’s on me or I just have that smell stuck in my nose!” I lifted my arm toward him. “Do you smell it on me?”

Alex backed away. “I’m not sure I want to smell you.”

Just then my husband Steven came into the hallway carrying his file box. Alex pointed to me.

“Mom wants you to smell her.”

Steven looked confused. “What?”

“A skunk sprayed in the front yard and I think I got hit!” I held my coat sleeve up to him.

He leaned over and smelled. “Nope. You’re good.”

I sighed. “That’s a relief. I wouldn’t have been able to go to work.” I picked up my bags again. Steven put his file box down. “Okay, but before you go I have some bad news.”

I dropped my bags again. “Oh, no.” I sighed again. “What?”

“The skunk didn’t just pass by the front yard.” He began walking into kitchen while I followed him. “I’m pretty sure he’s living under our deck.” He opened up the back door and the skunk smell was overpowering.

I stepped outside and looked over the railing. Sure enough I could see the little footprints in the snow of our stinky friend coming from under the deck and walking to the woods. I came back inside and closed the door. “Didn’t we have this problem last year?”

Steven nodded. “Yup.”

“So what did we do?”

Steven shrugged his shoulder. “Nothing. After a few days it just moved on.”

“So we have to put up with this for the next few days?” I headed back to the front door.

“We could.” Steven was following back to the front hall. “But I’m pretty sure I smelled him in the back yard last week, so I’m not thinking he’s planning on moving soon.”

I picked up my bags. “Well, he can’t live here. I don’t want to be known as the stinky house on the block. I’ll pick up some ammonia on my way home from work. I heard they don’t like the smell.”

Alex was still in the hallway. “They don’t like the smell of ammonia but they don’t mind how bad they smell?”

“Go figure.” I shrugged my shoulders as I took a deep breath and held it while I opened the front door. Sprinting to the car I quickly got in and exhaled. I could still smell the skunk as I started the car. I once again smelled the sleeve of my coat making sure the smell wasn’t on me before I backed out of the driveway and headed to work. Halfway down my street I opened my window and inhaled before coughing. “Nope. I can still smell him.” I said as I closed my window.

ICICLES

Looking out my kitchen window I could see the yard was still covered in a blanket of snow. I looked over at my son Alex. “I better get out there and fill those bird feeders.” I went over to the boot tray to get my rain boots. “Those poor guys must be starving.”

I grabbed my coat and went out on the porch to get the container that held the bird seed.

“Be careful!” Alex called from the back door. “There’s a lot of ice.”

I gingerly made my way down the unshoveled steps with my container of bird seed swinging by my side. I was barely braking through the icy crust of snow as I made my way to the feeders. Taking one of the feeders down I noticed it was encrusted in ice. I began tapping it with the bird seed scooper but it didn’t even crack the ice. I reached over to the other feeder and saw that it was the same. I looked back at Alex. “We have a problem!” I called.

“What?”

“Frozen solid!” I held up the feeder to make my point then hung it back on the Shepard hook and moved to the next feeder. “Nope, this one’s frozen, too!” I looked around at the birds, sitting on branches in the woods, watching me. “Sorry guys. I can’t fill the feeders but…” I scooped some bird seed out of the container and began tossing it on top of the snow. “This will have to do.” I said as I tossed several more scoops.

Turning around and heading back to the house I could hear the chirps and calls from the birds as they flocked to the seed covered snow. “You’re welcome!” I called over my shoulder.

I carefully made my way back up the steps and put the container down. Ducking under the eve of the porch I reached up and snapped an icicle off the gutter. “I don’t think I’ve seen this many icicles in years.” I held it out for Alex to see. “When I was a kid we’d break them off the house and lick them like Popsicle.” I looked closer at the icicle and could see small flicks of dirt in it and tossed it into the snow. “Seems kind of disgusting now.” I stamped the snow off my boots as I came inside.

Alex laughed. “It’s kind of like licking the inside of the gutter.”

“Yuck.” I kicked my boots off and hung my coat up in the closet.

Going back into the kitchen I looked over at Alex. “Are you in the mood for some hot chocolate?”

“Sure. That sounds good.”

I went into the cabinet to get the hot chocolate mix when I notice a suet package sitting on the shelf. “Oh, I forgot to put this out!” I unwrapped it and went to the back door.

“Aren’t you going to put a coat on?”

“Nah.” I stood by the door and Frisbee threw it into the back yard watching it slide on top of the ice until it stopped right in front of the bird bath. “Perfect!” I closed the door and saw Alex staring at me. “What?”

Alex pointed out the window. “The suet feeder doesn’t have any ice on it.”

I looked out the window and saw he was right. I shrugged my shoulders. “Oh well. I didn’t feel like getting all bundled up again.” I pointed out the window again at the birds that were now on top of the suet. “See. They found it.”