happy earth day!

the five-spots are smiling

tribute

together in the sunshine

more than the pain of my own sense of loss
i feel the pain of his
they knew each other's warmth in the womb
and every night for the 13 years of life they shared on earth
now the nights are colder for one
at some point every night
he wakes
and i hear him crying
in the dark
sometimes a frantic succession of short mews    
sometimes in low drawn out moans
i can hear him saying
“billy isn't here...
where is billy?”
and soon after
he jumps onto the foot of the bed
and walks up onto my belly or chest
and meows softly
telling me
“billy isn't here”
sometimes he stays for a moment
settling down on top of one or the other us
before slipping off again into the dark
i lie awake for a while with my heart aching for him
because i cannot find for him his lost brother
cannot explain to him where he has gone
during the day
he often naps on the bed
sometimes the sunlight coming through the window
washes over him at just the right angle
and i can see a series of dark stripes and spots
just like billy's
showing through from under his glossy black coat
and as i look at him
sleeping peacefully
i wonder if he dreams of being with his striped brother again
pressed to his familiar furry warmth
napping together in the sunshine

sunday bacon in bed with dog

out early with zane to take care of the ducks and then back under the covers for some coffee, bacon, and light therapy (i run on solar power and when the sun doesn't shine i need a little more light in the mornings to keep from getting too seasonally affective).  staal made some good coffee and bacon and we sat in bed with jack and zane enjoying it while watching the snow come down and the little birds eat birdseed in the kitchen garden.  we decided the world would be a better place if everyone had sunday bacon in bed with their dog (or cat, or significant other etc.).

yeah, my zipper pull is a paper clip

my snowy, early morning chore companion

some of that white stuff outside in the kitchen garden, led light therapy lamp, and beautiful crispy bacon

out of focus but the only one i could catch him smiling

looking to staal for a tidbit

it's usually jack on my lap this time of morning but zane seemed to need a little lap time for himself today

piling up pretty well and still coming down

wherever you find yourselves today, may you be safe, and warm, and enjoy some time with someone you love...furry or otherwise.

been wintry

this has been the wintriest winter we've had since we've lived here.  we've had some good rains (and hail, and wind, and thunderstorms) and today is our fourth snow of the year (and month) with more in the forecast for tomorrow.
here are a few recent pictures for anyone who wants some sierra foothills winter weather...

west side creek

the terrifying snowshrooms that even tiny won't eat

about as far as we got that day

22 degree F morning frost ferns in the bottom of a duck feed pan

snowing

oasis

heading home after going over to feed 'migo

35 degrees F and slushy...fair weather for duckies

breaking through the snow with a little prickly festivity

much needed blue

snowdog just chillin'

always something good to be found out there if you look

laying bare the bones

snow accumulates slowly
with silent stealth
softening
obscuring all
under a blanket of white
and yet
standing stark
against dark branches
fences
trellises
and the summer garden's remains
laying bare the bones of the this place
revealing all
with wondrous beauty

snow and brief power outage

we got about 4 inches of snow last night and a little more off and on today.  the power went out around 7:30 this morning but was back on around 1:30 this afternoon.  there was good coffee, a warm fire in the wood stove, and some fun in the snow.