Today has been slow, a damp chill in the air. I enjoy listening to jazz on rainy days and have Spotify playing in the background. The undesirable weather has not stopped the birds- we had a charm of goldfinches, and quite a few house finches in their dusty red coats, along with a solitary, bright red cardinal and a couple of grey morning doves. We keep three feeders outside our back window, and by afternoon each was quite empty, surrounded by a flutter of wings.

Sophie always knows how to enjoy the day, regardless of the weather. Basset Hounds are generally torpid, and she has slept the day away on the livingroom rug.