It's Cold, and The Juncos Are Here

Yesterday noon it was 72 degrees and I sat on the porch reading the mail, knowing that the warmth wouldn't last. The weather forecasts all predicted a sharp cold front, rain and possibly even snow flurries overnight. As I came back around the house I saw a flock of sparrows at the bird feeder and then a small gray-on-top, white-underneath nervous bird landed on the garage roof, flashing white on its tail as it hopped. Yes, Virginia, the Juncos have arrived. It can freeze and snow now.

The rain last night did turn to snow flurries around 10:30 p.m. Norm and I were standing on the driveway with our huge flashlight scanning the electric lines leading to and from our pole to see if there was any clue to the power outage that had just struck, and the tiny snow crystals stung our faces. We didn't find anything amiss with our power lines, and a call to the electric company informed us via an automated voice that some 1,000 people were affected by this outage, and that crews expected to have power restored shortly after midnight. So, we went to bed, along with Sam the poodle who is visiting us for the last time before he moves to Florida. And this morning, as promised, the power was on and the house was warm. But outside it was gray and cold, and winter seems to be with us. The Juncos say so.