brrrrr

[fflo]

The female cardinal is spending a lot of time at the birdfeeder outside my window today. A sparrow or two, and two different little black-and-white birds I haven't identified, bop by sometimes too, but it's really been her spot. The other day a woodpecker was taking advantage of the thing. A squirrel got my hunk of suet a while ago. I like to think it's up in Mr. Spot's winter den in pine tree Junior.

Got up and out early today, after a late night last night, to meet friend of friend. Walked dogs again yesterday, and that was good, though quite cold. Today, Sunday, won't see 10 degrees F in these parts.

I like having the luxury of (occasionally) living, fairly comfortably, through days of extreme-ish temps like this. Cold more than hot, I think. Hey, another female cardinal! Wonder if they're lesbians. Haven't seen a boy all day. Anyway, there's a different kind of respect for nature/"the environment" in this sort of dangerous weather, vs. the more dramatic stormy varieties. Something kind of wonderfully simple & matter of fact about how the mere/sheer temperature could kill you. Makes one pay attention to very simple things that, in these circumstances, are vital to staying, uh, vital. Alive. Existant.

But my feet ARE cold.

If I came into a lot of money, I'd look into having heat put in under these floors.

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Hey, another female cardinal! Wonder if they're lesbians.

I don't know about cardinals, but I remember reading in Science News many years ago the there are lesbian mallard ducks. They cooperate in raising each other's ducklings and also engage in making behaviors with each other.

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

Maybe those cardinals aren't "just friends"

[fflo.livejournal.com]

"Still, it is unclear why homosexuality survives since it seems a genetic dead-end."

ha! as if only behaviors that contribute to reproduction occur and recur and thus "survive" in animals.

thanks for the link, though. i'd heard there are lesbian seagulls. maybe those two cardinals are co-parenting. they won't get domestic partner benefits in michigan, though, if they work for a government entity, unless last week's appeals court decision is overturned.

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

Sure. I must admit--I ony skimmed through the piece before I sent you the link--I do find the idea of the exhibit pretty interesting.

It's good thing you're there to help the mama cardinals out with their grocery needs--at least that's one less thing for them to have to worry about. (You know, since I guess they can't get any kind of domestic benefits if one or both of 'em are working for the government.)