Although our house is in a cul de sac and from my kitchen window, where we spend most of our free time, I see the Dead End sign as a reminder, I still appreciate the next phase of the rising sun when it illuminates the roofs of the houses across the street. Those houses that have a second floor are the first to receive the warmth of the new day.
In the freezing weather, it is hard to imagine that only a few months ago, we were suffering 120 degree weather.
The sun has reached my right face through the window in the living room and I am in the kitchen. It hits my right eyeglass and reflects into my eye. Good morning. My shadow is now cast on the blinds covering the kitchen window that faces west and the Dead End sign outside.
It is a new day. Duke the dog is waiting for me to take him to the park nearby where all the neighborhood dogs go by passing by our house. Duke lets out a warning bark each time this happens. We look out to see a man or a woman or both taking their dogs for a walk.
One evening, we were looking up at the clear sky when two white owls were circling above. The neighbors have since told us everything about them. Where they hang out, what kind they are (Great Horned), and where they hatched. One of them is spoken to as Baby Blue. I told them we rescued a great horned owl in Rhode Island once. We were taking a walk in the woods when my friend Cynthia noticed an owl under a tree who was trying to fly but couldn't. Immediately she took out her jacket and picked the owl up with it like it was a baby. A beautiful owl, scared and probably hurting, was taken to the rangers and the following day, its picture was in the Providence Journal.
I walked with the neighbors to where the owls hang out but they were not there. Eight out of ten time they are there they told me. Maybe soon.
Duke is big and he is not afraid of anything except us who take care of him. He is a mix of Lab and Chow. On the other hand, Miss Kitty, the cat, 17 years young, knows there are owls outside and won't stay out, specially at night unless accompanied by an adult. She is constantly in complain mode and in need of attention. Gary says it is old age but more so because of the new environment we put her in.
She sleeps most of the time and jumps on the chest where I have all my plants, to drink...plant juice? Some of my plants are in water in vases awaiting transplantation. When she jumps or runs in fear, you wouldn't know how old she is.
We managed to cut the tip of her toenails to prevent injury to our legs when she jumps on our laps and holds herself in balance by sinking her nails into our flesh. We still cannot explain the two inch scratch on my back, below my shoulder which was an open wound and which I discovered by accident. Although neither pet is allowed in the bedroom, Miss Kitty, to spite us, will come in, make some noise and run out before we have had time to say "OUT!"
She could have very well jumped on me while I was in deep sleep. We think. We have no proof.
The sun is high enough that it has reached the road, the cars, the plants, the fruit trees and the blue recycling bins that people have put outside.
