November 16, 2025
Kevin laughed when I said I had nothing to say last night, but I didn't.  I'd had a nice evening at home with Clara and I was quiet and tired.  I went to sleep.  EJ woke me up at 11:30 to tell me the show had gone well.  I went back to sleep with a smile on my face.  Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up again entirely dehydrated and hurting bad.  I knew I just needed to be quiet again today.  I did go to Migratory Way and take a few photos and I got to see Edite for a bit.  But for the most part I have stayed quiet all day.  









Usually a hawk stands up in this dead tree on the river's edge, but today it was a mighty crow reigning over his neighborhood, looking out for some fun.



And the mergansers are home.  There were at least 30 of them in the canal, lined up in three rows.  Again, they made me smile.  Mergansers are trickster birds, clowns almost, happy, and they will be around for the winter. 


There were mallards and teals and no sign of the really big birds.  There were 3 C. geese sitting on a floating log, but no eagles, no swans.  They've gone to their winter homes, they'll be back in January.   

I think the last time I went down there the autumn flowers were still holding court.  I think there were asters and others, but today it was just dead reeds and grasses and the color comes from oddities like oak trees pushing up on the side of the water.  

Clouds were coming in ominous and black, moving quickly.  They brought us rain, but I'm sure others got snow.  

I meant to ask Ember if Eliza was still into ducks.  I took some photos of them anyway.  They're tucking in for the winter, too.   Doesn't he look soft?
I have to get the house ready for the guys to come and measure my windows.  I have to be ready for surgery and I have to have everything filled out for fuel assistance.  Wish me luck keeping those three things organized.  I'm a little worried about surgery and being out of the pool for a few weeks.  The idea is painful.   


The home of Smashing China, a treat by the garden's edge.  



 

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