Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Happy Cabin Fever Day!!
A big ‘Hello’ to all my faithful readers on this Monday which is also ‘International Cabin Fever Day’!! Hard to believe it is here once again. Well, not too hard to believe, I guess. Especially since both Muffin and I have that terrible disease called CABIN FEVER! When it hits, it hits hard and doesn’t want to let go. Seems especially bad this year for some reason. But then, it seems to get worse every year. And I don’t even live in a cabin. That’s the worst part. Wouldn’t be so bad if I did. Would at least make sense then.
But that is where the term cabin fever came from. Way back…when people would get snowed in to their houses, which many times were not much more than a cabin. And that was it for the whole winter. No getting out to town. No shopping. No internet. Or TV, or phones, or other people. No wonder they got cabin fever. It’s all about being stuck inside. All alone. Though many had farms and things to do. But it was being cut off from the rest of the world that did it. But, hey, I live in an apartment, not a cabin. And in town. Sigh. And I still get it. Oh well. Muffin and I celebrated the day anyway. Games, popcorn, french fries, bird watching! It was a great day. Sort of. Muffin is worn out, curled up in her favorite chair. Sleeping. I feel like doing that too. Sigh.
Speaking of…
It was actually not too bad this morning when I went out to feed the birds. It was milder. Not mild. Just milder. There’s a difference. But it was noticeable after yesterday’s bitterly cold day. And there was some light snow. But that changed by noon. It cleared. And the wind really picked up. And the temp dropped. A lot. It was amazingly cold out there. Poor birds. Those little nuthatches seem to have a real hard time. Constantly having to warm their little feet. Then back to eating. And that shrike was around again. That means the birds must stop eating. And just stop. They are still. Quiet.
I looked around. Aha! Spotted the nasty critter. So I went outside and that scared him off. Good. I waited for a bit to make sure it didn’t come back. Took awhile, but the birds started to move and went back to eating. And I went back inside. I was frozen. Of course I wasn’t exactly dressed for staying out there so long. Sigh. I think I’m still cold from that!
Deciding to…
This time of year always gets me thinking. Of different kinds of projects to fill the long days of winter. Now, it’s not exactly easy. Thinking. At least for me. Gives me headaches. Plus I end up thinking of a lot of different projects I would like to do. Except, of course, I can’t. This apartment has it’s limitations. Definition= it’s very small. So that limits the types of projects. A lot. Sigh. Finding what I need in this town is another problem. We don’t have a lot of stores. The right kind, at least. I need a certain item. Checked 3 stores. They don’t have such a thing. It’s a certain kind of hand saw. One store had what I wanted. But it came with something else that I didn’t want. And because it’s 2 items, the price is higher. Naturally. Sigh. I only want the saw. The other item would end up in the garbage. Why buy something I am just going to throw out? Sigh. And people wonder why I have cabin fever.
This reminds me of…
This weather is very much like another winter. When snowshoeing was a favorite winter pastime of mine. I didn’t get cabin fever then. Strange. I even had a cabin. Sigh. I usually do things backward anyway. So I guess that fits. Sort of. I think. Now we’re back to thinking again. Terrible. I need to stop doing that. Gets me frustrated. Thinking. Sigh. But one day, much like today, I decided to head out snowshoeing. I wanted to make one of my trails longer, and then loop back to the beginning. I liked to make my trails loop around. Then I didn’t have to come back the same way. Was more enjoyable. To me anyway. And since I was the only one out there, it made sense. I think. AAAA, did it again. Sigh.
Next time…
Oh well. I really did want to get started on that. But I will. Next time. I hope you all will enjoy your week, think warm, and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2019 Steve McLeod
Waiting For…
Hello everyone! The days are getting longer. And colder. But that’s the way it always works. In this part of the country at least. Hard to believe that 1700 miles north it is warmer than here. Out west they are basking in beautifully warm temps. We freeze.
Sigh. But it will likely warm up soon. In a couple months. At least then we can look forward to warmer weather coming soon. I hope.
Ice Crystals
This morning it was very foggy. But it left the trees covered in frost. Looked absolutely beautiful. And as the sun rose and shone on the trees, the frost began falling. Millions of very tiny crystals of ice, sparkling like diamonds as they floated to the ground. Or rather, to the snow. If it wasn’t so cold I could have enjoyed it more. And perhaps gotten some nice pics.
Poor Birds
They don’t seem to be enjoying this cold. Don’t blame them. Poor little critters. The nuthatches keep taking breaks to warm their little feet. Then back to eating.
Didn’t seem to be as many birds around today. Odd. They sure ate a lot yesterday. There wasn’t as many blue jays either which is really odd. Fortunately the shrike didn’t show up. Those little birds need all the time they can get to eat in this cold.
Waiting…
Muffin and I were in bed the other night. It was snowing. About 3 inches on the deck by that time. Then I heard someone come walking up the stairs and onto the deck, stopping at the door. Muffin heard this too. And followed the walking sound right to the door. It stopped. Muffin stared at the door. I was waiting for someone to knock. I don’t get visitors at 10:30 pm. I’m usually sleeping by that time. But not that night. Nothing happened. No one left. I got curious. Muffin just stared. I had my ‘friend’ handy. Turned on the deck light and looked out. No one there. Not even footprints of any kind in the new snow. The snow had stopped by then. I looked down my path. No footprints there either. I get curious. So out I go. Nothing. No fresh footprints anywhere. Odd. Very odd. I don’t like things I can’t explain. Sigh.
Swinging
I am looking out the window this afternoon. It’s late. The birds have gone to bed. But it’s still light. Not any breeze out there. It’s quiet. I have 4 hanging feeders out there. Two for suet, 2 with sunflower seeds, tube type feeders. Nothing is moving. I’m looking at one of them. Suddenly it starts to move. Slowly at first. Then it really starts to swing back and forth. There is nothing around. There is not the slightest breeze. Finally it slows down and stops again as before. I know there is a logical explanation for it. But I guess I’m not logical, because I can’t figure it out. If you have an answer, please share it with me, I would love to know.
Phone Calls
I have been getting odd phone calls lately. The person always seems to be surprised when I answer and asks to speak with someone. He gives a different name each time. It is the same person, easy enough voice to recognize. Makes me curious. I’m always curious about odd things. Ever since someone threatened to kill me last summer. Oh well.
Before I Forget…
Muffin has a new post if you haven’t already read it. Some people say it’s stupid saying Muffin writes something. Hey, I have seen books written from the viewpoint of an animal. I just consider it a different way of writing something. She will try to write something new every Wednesday. There is also a new poem in Steve’s Country Extras. I will be adding some other items in there over the next week. And something new starting over the next few days as well, actually two things. Stay tuned.
Hmm…
This ended up being longer than I thought, wasn’t planning to write anything today. Technical difficulties. This cold weather causes things to go down. Me included. Don’t forget, it’s almost here! I hope you all enjoy your weekend, please come back next week and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2019 Steve McLeod
Steve`s Country 