Thanks

Can Thanksgiving be here already? Here at Windsong Woods, the Autumn cold is slow in coming. The grass is still green, though the trees have lost their leaves. There is no ice in the pond yet. A few light touches in the early morning, but the usual chill of November has eluded us so far. Years ago, there was always skating on the ice pond in Round Pond, though now we are lucky to be skating by Christmas. The last 12 months have been above normal here in Maine. Global warming is us.
The lobstering has been good, as can be expected in the Fall. There is a lot of trap shifting going on, but the catch is fat and full, when the weather permits. Shrimp season begins next week, or at least the draggers can start at that time. The price will be up this year - an unexpected bonus from the Gulf of Mexico spill last Spring. Their loss - our gain. Somehow I have a hard time feeling happy about that...
I'm still waiting for the first egg from the chicken girls. They are 24 weeks old this week, and I thought they started laying at 20 weeks. I hope I don't have 2 roosters instead of 2 hens.
The Cockatiels, on the other hand, have laid another clutch of eggs since I moved their cage inside. They lay 7 or 8 eggs, spend a month sitting on them, then abandon the small, white treasures. When opened, the eggs are never fertilized. I don't know why. They mate - I've seen them. What a lovely little sound they make with their love too! It is quite pornographic! But nothing ever comes of all their love and hard work. I'm glad, because I would probably have 5 dozen birds by now, but you have to have sympathy for their unfulfilled love.
On the wild bird front - a pair of Cardinals visited yesterday and played in the bush by our bedroom window. What beauty they grace us with, and nothing beats that red coat the male wears. The Titmice are here regularly now too. I always have tons of Chickadees and Goldfinches. I rescued a Chickadee that had flown into the window and was hanging upside down in a bush, gasping and barely hanging on to the branch. I carefully held him in my hand to recover and right himself. He slowly regained his strength and agility, and flew off in about 10 minutes.
The flock of crows - called a murder of crows - comes to eat the corn and sunflower seed all together now. This is the time they flock up to feed and Winter together. There is about 2 dozen regulars, though in the dead of a cold, snowy January, every crow from 50 miles knows where I live.
Cabin fever already too. This house it too small. I cannot type on this without the hubby having a fit... I better go look busy. Ugh.