It's right at 32 again this morning, but I think Spring might be coming. For one thing, it's light out before 7. (well, they'll change the time soon so that won't be true, but, for now...) Birds make noise.

Yesterday was a really bad day. Actually, it started Wednesday. Within the space of an hour, I learned that my young friend, a 6-year-old neighbor, was in the hospital. Yesterday afternoon, she was operated on to relieve the pressure of fluid in her brain. Apparently, she has a genetic disease that will cause tumors along her nerves throughout her life. Horrible for her, horrible for people who love her. She came through the surgery and was watching Dora and asking for hot chocolate. I don't know about her future, but she has a grandfather who is a doctor and lots of loving care. I am pretty upset, though. The second thing that happened was a friend's wife's cancer has come back with a vengeance. She is home in a lot of pain with around the clock care. I am so sad for them and for me. Nothing I can really do. I have offered support in both cases.

I woke up yesterday with a cold, but that isn't the third bad thing. (they come in threes). When I let the chickens out, there were only two of them. I was confused. They weren't out at all the day before, or for several days. Could I have not noticed there were only two? It took me awhile, but I found some feathers and a place where the chicken wire had been forced from the upright. Obviously, I didn't do a very good job, but something strong and persistent had gotten in and taken away my best layer, Beauty. It must have been working alone (raccoon?), because the other two appear unharmed. And none of us heard anything. It looks like the dogs didn't bark and the chickens didn't squawk?

Ray made a presentation about birds being dinosaurs to a group from the Audubon Society last night at the Nature Center. It was very good. He has been working on it for most of the week, but especially all day yesterday, not doing much else. It was pretty intense, but a great talk. We managed to get him to cut it back to only 150 slides... The group was only about 20 people. It seems like maybe overkill, but many really liked it. He could do a whole course on it, or other presentations. Pretty interesting stuff and great illustrations.