Claire asked where exactly that mysterious noise was coming from in my office. Here is the suspected area of origin:
There is nothing electronic or alive or capable of making a sound in that pile. Believe me, I have checked. The little black space heater, lower center, is unplugged.
Wait.
::light bulb over The Kat™'s head!!!::I have an oil-filled heater under my desk.
Perhaps that is what makes the noise? I'd swear the sound is coming from elsewhere in the room, but perhaps... From where I sit the oil-filled heater is at twelve o'clock high; the apparent origin of the sound is at four or five o'clock.
I shall perform some experiments and report back.
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Sun! The sun is shining today! Clear blue skies! Hallelujah!
After a week of fog and rain, the sun is very welcome.
At left, above, is our bathroom with its solar tube (no window). I know as soon as I open my eyes in the morning whether the sun is shining by how bright it is in the bathroom. This morning it was BLINDING! At right, the view out the solarium window toward the driveway and the woods.
It feels so mild outside one does not need a coat. (The thermometer above is in the shade; it is much warmer in the sun.)
The snow is nearly gone from our front yard.
The lake is still iced over, but not for long. No vehicles on it since last Sunday. Behold: rotten ice.
Spring fever hit Lucy today. She got away from Smokey and went for a runaround. You may not be able to tell, but her paws are wet and muddy.
...and there is a big doggy smile on her face.
* * * * *
When I set my watch forward today I set it to the second using www.time.gov.
I used to put this site up on my monitor every morning when the boys were getting ready for school. (At that time the page had a cleaner appearance, without all that text in the lower half, and the numerals were larger. The text is all about the change to Daylight Savings Time today, so tomorrow the page may go back to looking like I remember it.) The monitor was in the dining/living room and the boys could see it. I found it helped them remember to keep moving and lessened the need for motherly reminders to Hurry up! It's almost time to leave for school!
And that is my parenting tip for the year.
* * * * *
When Matthew was here a few weeks back I asked him if he had lost the hat I knit him for Christmas (STR Raven Clan, "Corbie") yet, knowing that he probably had. I was right. He was sad about the loss and told me of his efforts to find the hat. I know my boy; he has many good qualities, but keeping track of things -- even important possessions -- is often beyond his ability, so I didn't berate him for losing it.
We picked out more STR for a replacement, and it arrived on Friday.
Given the current weather situation he may not need this until next winter, but I am taking time off from the multicolored striped raglan to knit the hat. In my own experience, it is easier to lose a black thing than an almost-white thing; he may be able to hold onto this one longer.
