I’m looking forward to dinner with siblings this weekend and experimenting with a couple of new recipes. I’m also going to enjoy time outside. After our rainy January, February’s sunny weather has been a joy.
Have a great weekend!
As I continue writing about winter, taking cold walks, indoor gardening ideas, and staying warm by the fire, spring has been making its way toward New England. My focus on winter feels a little like something I do as I walk a long, steep hill near my house. I keep my head down as I climb, not looking up for as long as I can, in hopes that I’ll be almost to the top when I finally check my progress. The hard work will be done and the reward will be in front of me. (In case you’re wondering, I rarely make it to the top before looking up.) My approach to winter is similar. Maybe, if I keep talking about winter, I’ll look up one day and spring will be here. In fact, some signs of spring are already here.
The flocks of grackles, starlings, and red-winged blackbirds are back. A group of grackles is called a plague and a group of starlings is called a chattering, among other terms. A group of red-winged blackbirds doesn’t seem to be distinguished from a group of blackbirds, which is called a cloud or cluster. I’ve always seen the three types of birds together and they are a pretty tough crowd around our feeders.
Tom and I heard the trill of red-winged blackbirds a couple of weeks ago at Parker River Refuge. A week later, we heard them in a marshy area in our neighborhood. Last weekend, the aforementioned crowd of birds arrived in our backyard. I searched the birds for the telltale red streak on a wing. The first check yielded nothing. During the second search out the window, I spotted one. Then Tom spotted another. Once this crowd arrives, spring is just around the corner.
If you’re looking for some weekend reading, I’ve got a few things to share.
- Bob Moore, founder of Bob’s Red Mill, remembered for business savvy and compassion, ‘zest for life’ — Bob’s Red Mill is a name known to all bakers and the man behind it left the company to its employees to continue the legacy. (Oregon Live)
- This Colorful Family Home Is Peppered With Reading Nooks — I love this house with its colorful walls, hand-me-down furniture, and beautiful artwork. I enjoyed the interview with homeowner Maggie Pouncey. (Cup of Jo)
- Stinge Watching Is the Opposite of Binge Watching — Do you fall into one watch type group? I stinge watch and binge watch. I also stinge read and binge read. (kotte.org)
- How often should I change the water in a vase of flowers? Our expert florist weighs in. — I didn’t know that you should recut the stems when you change the water! (Homes & Gardens)
- More Gardening News, 2024 — More of my indoor and outdoor gardening projects. (Sea Salt and Sailor Stripes)
- Goodness: ‘They’ve never seen anything like this’: Their DIY garden is inspiring the block — What an incredible dedication to gardening! I love the family’s garden. (The Los Angeles Times)
About the photo: The sun sets over a walkway in the reeds at Parker River Refuge in Newburyport, MA.