A solitary squirrel sits out there on the feeders and has been for the thirty minutes that I have been out here in the sunporch. Only a few sparrows an cardinals flutter around the other feeders. It is a cloudy morning and a reletively warm 47° out there which is pretty much stretches the temperature average for the end of December.

The house is quiet this morning, save the sound of snoring pups and a gently snooring Julie on the couch. Jim is up and playing poker on his computer. Ms. Kate I still sleeping back in the bedroom. The silence is wonderful. The fact that Julie is on the couch tells me that the pups got her up in the middle of the night to go pee! The old dog, Harley, does that to her almost every night which means she seldom gets a good night's sleep.

Julie and Jim will be heading home today. It is only a two hour trip but it is supposed to be rainy on and off all day. So, I offer a prayer for their safe travels. I reckon there will be a lot of people returning home from their Christmas visits today and tomorrow. Winter weather and snow and ice are progressing across the nation from the west which will make for treacherous travel for many to the north and west of us. Forecasters are saying we might have an icy winter mix here for New Year's Eve. It is probably good that our party days are behind us.

Ms. Kate and her sister, Karen, went to their consultation concerning their aunt yesterday afternoon and they were given no news that contained hope. The aunt has had two significant strokes, has no use of well over half of her body, has minimal speech capability, and they were told that she is not successfully responding to the physical therapy. It is our desire that she be made as comfortable as possible and it is our prayer that God is getting her eternal room ready, and that she not have to continue to live like this for long. She is a wonderful lady and deserves a dignified passing, at least in my opinion. But, whatever God's plan is, we will trust that there is good in it, simply because God is good; --- all the time.

I've set here long enough that the woodpeckers, finches, and more cardinals have arrived; --- and that squirrel is still sitting on the same feeder. Is it any wonder I go through so much sunflower seed? I refilled all of the feeders yesterday and probably put at least  twenty pounds of sunflower seed out there in them. But, the enjoyment of my back yard menagerie is why I do it, so I guess I'll just pour another cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy.

Have a great weekend.