Gratitude Monday --Watch the Birdie

A woodpecker contemplates the pecking of some wood.

A Downy woodpecker has been by lately.
I've missed him.
A few years ago he, or his kith or kin, frequented a feeder we had hanging from our shed.
We didn't feed birds for a few years. Woodpecker desertion was part of our punishment.
We started again last summer and carried on for the winter. It took time for the woodpecker to find us, but between the bird ball and the available trees, he's back.
I am grateful.

Photo-Finish Friday -- A Bear in the Woods

A black bear forages for berries along the Columbia Icefields Parkway. May I suggest clicking on it to get to Flickr and then selecting full screen?

Scene and Ignored

As I wind up an editing/minor rewrite of  my manuscript I see something I can't avoid: Chapter 18 needs help from Chapter One. Said help needs to be written.
It's not a huge surprise. I've known since at least Chapter 14 I needed to seed a bit of backstory to make Chapter 18 work.

Why didn't I knuckle down and get it done?

Because my Devil writer's helper said, "It's not necessary. You've written this so well the reader will fill it in. Leave something to their imaginations. They'll create with you. They want that."
Soothing, kind words.
The kind of kind words that appeal to the ego and to the laziness. A most potent combination.

My angel writer's helper has been screaming at me for the past four chapters. "You've done a lousy job building up to this. It comes out of nowhere. Remember Gr. 8 English?  Deus ex Machina? It was bad, remember?"

Angel helper sounds miserable, but she's taking the place of my muse who went out for a walk to cool down a few months ago and hasn't returned. Muse hates it when I don't listen.

Devil helper is still whispering the potent, seductive words, but angel is winning. Angel is correct. A small scene in Chapter One will lay the pipes and electrical connections necessary for the reader to go,"Oh, yeah."

I've put it off as long as I can. As soon as I finish editing the final few chapters I'll get right to it.

At The Bird Ball

This Downy Woodpecker found the suet ball in the front yard this afternoon.
I was so pleased.

Gratitude Monday --The Power of Off

I spent a few unscheduled quiet moments on Saturday and I am very happy about it.
The power went off in mid-afternoon just as I was about to stir the final two ingredients into a cake batter. Rather than cuss and swear and curse about the infernality of it all, I added the flour, set aside the milk, and popped the batter in the fridge.
The magic juice we depend on would return in its own time and no amount of prayer, begging, or voodoo would change it.
It was a sunny day. Spring was in the air if not on the calendar.
I opened the front door to the afternoon sun, raised the window on the screen door to let in the fresh air, stretched my middle-aged self upon a leather loveseat and listened to the melt.
It was soothing and invigorating at the same time. The break from all human-engineered house noises was welcome. Humming of appliances was replaced by the happy tinkling of water flowing from downspouts.
It was a glorious chance to break away from the common activities of my usual life, and for it I am grateful.

A Guest I'd Like Back

This rose-breasted grosbeak visited a few summers ago. I'd like him or one like him to pay a return call.
My guess is it won't be until June or so, but I can dream.
I'm hoping by dint of sympathetic magic this photo will bring the visitor back.

Photo-Finish Friday -- To The Rockies

Looking west along the David Thompson Highway (Hwy. 11). I took the photo about this time last year.