Rainy Days & Mondays

That's a good title. Maybe I'll write a song....

I realized late last night that my ortho appointment was early this morning. Dr. Ortho took xrays of my lower back, stuck his thumbs into my flesh just exactly where it hurts the most, and told me to schedule an MRI. He said I have narrowing between two vertebrae as well as small spurs.

MRI. Never had one done, but heard stories. Mom says she has to work hard to keep from giggling over all the thumping it makes. I'm more concerned about having to lay still on a hard table for one hour. What if I have gas?

We had wonderful rain showers today. It's cold and feels like fall should feel. The first winter we were here, Hubby worked in town, the kids were in school, and I sat around on days like to today and watched the birds. Hubby bought me some really nice binoculars just for birdwatching. Before The Bead Room was full of junk, I would close the door, shut the heater vent, open the window, take off the screen, wrap up in a blanket, and watch birds. That first year we had a Loggerhead Shrike hanging out around the house. I saw him once the second winter, and never again. I suppose he didn't like the new tenants and relocated. I hope someone else got to enjoy him. Every time I see a mockingbird in the winter, I watch closely to see if it's a shrike. Nope. Just mockingbirds.

I also kept the birds in good supply of seed, dried fruit, suet, and peanut butter. We had a Ladderback Woodpecker visit the feeder as well a Downy woodpeckers (MIL calls them Dowdy woodpeckers), but I get the biggest thrill from Cardinals. They're just gorgeous.

Seems like there's always so much to do that we don't really enjoy the birds any more. We do make a half-hearted attempt to keep some seed out. Unfortunately, our neighbors invested in guineas several years ago and let them roam the countryside. That means they visit our bird feeders to clean them out on a daily basis.

Maybe when we move to Utopia, we won't have these problems any more! (uh-huh!)