The cardinals are here getting their fill before all of the black birds show up. My usual dozen are here hopping and flitting from one feeder to another. They probably need to get their breakfast finished because there are probably a half dozen "Scouts" for the black birds sitting in the trees overhead. That's the way they operate; they wait until a bunch of them arrive and then they just kind of all swoop in and move everyone else out. A singular titmouse is here this morning. That is unusual because they normally travel as pairs. I hope nothing has happened to its mate. There are also several goldfinches here. I'm glad to see their plume changing back to gold. That is another sign of spring coming soon.

I'm looking across the yards and through the bare trees and it looks like the snow has melted from the majority of the roofs that I can see. The long icecycles hanging from the gutters is a testament to the slow melting during the day and then refreezing every night. It is currently 19° outside and is only supposed to maybe get to 34° today. Another winter storm is moving across the southern half of the country and may clip us once again with some snow. Ms. Kate and I plan to go to Nashville, TN tomorrow and come home on Friday. But we are watching the weather really close because we don't need to drive into another bunch of snow and freezing weather.

There are strange things happening in "squirrel world" around here. Our squirrels have by and large always been brown squirrels. Suddenly we are getting grey squirrels showing up. I don' t know if a turf war has occured or if there is no problem between them or what. The greys seem to have one large member of their group and the rest are much leaner and smaller. While the browns tend to puff themselves up in this cold weather to keep themselves warm, the greys don't seem to do that. I had not really noticed it until yesterday when a cointractor I had here made notice and seemed surprised that we had grey squirrels. What I don't need is a whole new batch joining in to help clean out my feeders. I may learn a lot more about "squirrel-ology" than I ever wanted to.

It's Wednesday and that of course means I have my Wednesday stuff to do. Ms. Kate has to go for her blood draw. I have to go to the churches and run the bulletins for Sunday and we have choir practice this evening. It is also the day I call my mother. She always complains that she has nothing to do out there at the assisted living place and yet she is never in her room. So, I've established that I will call her on Wednesdays and maybe I'll catch her, and maybe I won't.

My prayers this morning begin with prayers of gratitude, as always. I using my Max Lucado Lenten Devotional each morning to start my day. I do like the way he writes and thinks. This is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. The day will be whatever we make it today so, serve yourself up a big helping of gratitude and love and then share it with your loved ones and friends. Life is too short to waste it with a frown on your face and a worry in your heart. God loves you, and so do I. Have a good one.