Brr! It is -40 this morning (forecast to get as low as -45 today with the wind chill). The ice fog at 7:00AM was thick and rolling. This picture was taken ~8:25AM. Less ice fog, but still hazy. It's hard not grab a hot chocolate and just sink into hibernation mode.
Every once in a while, something happens that makes you sit up and think, hmmm...
Earlier today, I looked up from my laptop and outside the window were two large blue jays. They were nibbling at the remnants of the dried up crabapples on the tree and eating the bit of bird seed we put out a few days ago. I told R., who also noticed a third blue jay in the neighbour's yard. It was so wonderful to see them. We rarely get blue jays here - I see one or two a year, if I'm lucky. Some years, I don't see any.
R. spotted the flag on our mailbox was down, so he got the mail while I continued to watch the blue jays. Just before he came back in the house, they flew away.
I received seeds in the mail from a lady who shared a tomato variety I'd been looking for. Imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope: the card in which she had enclosed the seeds featured a picture of a blue jay eating crabapples from a winter tree.
Is this an uncanny coincidence, or should I be reading up on spirit animals and messengers?
Also in today's mail were pepper seeds from a member of an online seed swap group I enjoy. When people send seeds, the degree of effort and 'extras' varies. Some people simply mail a small bag or envelope of seeds. Others - most - add a little note, sometimes written in a card that also serves to protect the seeds as they travel through the mail. Some enclose 'extras', whether than be extra/unexpected seed varieties, stickers, recipe cards, etc.
This trader really is a standout, and receiving her mail is a special event. In addition to sending extra seed varieties (in addition to the one I was looking for), she makes her envelopes from colourful scrapbook paper and paints her own cards! This one is a "keeper". I love the little bee. :)
