Hey mice, supper's up!

We rarely spy field mice in the barn, thanks to our crack team of cats. When a rodent creeps out from the shadows to snarf down some spilled grain, that little beady-eyed vermin is toast. We find it's head or entrails proudly displayed on our door step. 

Except when winter's frigid temperatures set in.

Then our ruthless rodent-dispatching A-Team retires to the mudroom to bask in the warmth of the space heater. Mel and Frog meld themselves into an orange-gray orb and doze away the nights. Get up for breakfast? A can of cat food? Ug, that means leaving the God-of-heat all on its lonesome! Might as well stay put. Those stupid humans will dish out more food in the evening. Or the next day.

So, have at it, mice. Hang the disco ball, throw yourselves a kegger in the barn. Dive into the horse treats, gorge yourselves. You'll make a tasty meal when the temperature warms up.

Field of bleak

You've all heard it before: "I think October's my favorite month. The leaves just start to turn and there's that crispness in the air..." Or else, "I dig June, it's finally hot, break out the shorts, hit the beach..." And there's always a few saps who claim they "luuuuvvv December because it's soooo festive..."

No one claims to love February.

Because February is a parasitic month. It should be the time to look forward: "hey, we survived 3 months indoors, just 30 more days til spring!" But normal people don't think that way.

February is the month that won't end. It's dead yellow grass, speckled with brown dirt patches, and naked trees as far as the eye can see. Nothing grows but mud, and it feels like nothing ever will.

I know, it's the same every year -- this interminable shade of bleak. Then overnight everything greens up, like spring pulls an all-nighter, frantically slapping buckets of paint on everything before the sun comes up.

I just can't wait for that day. Vile February, be gone!

Mel, who accompanied me to take photos, is less traumatized by February's cruel, cold grasp. Or else, he just keeps it on the inside.