brook, I used to hear them here all the time, but then several years went by and I heard nothing. Then last year I heard them once or twice. Funny you mention predators.......as I was following one, trying to get its picture, a hawk flew overhead. :( I quickly left the Bobwhite alone. I live in central Indiana. Isn't it strange to find 3 of them now, with a foot of snow on the ground and extremely cold temps? We have 35 acres of land.......a mix of woods and growing up fields. We have tons of big brush piles, so hopefully they've found some shelter in those. I put some dried corn around the areas they seemed to frequent. I have a friend who said she had a bobwhite once that loved greenbeans.

It's such a stormy early evening here (and it's tomorrow night that is supposed to be our real wind and rain coastal storm), I'd love to have my tree, its lights, fire in the fireplace and my quilt. But I took my tree down a few days ago, packed all the ornaments wrapping some, wrapped each piece of the santa figurine collection, thought I had everything carefully stored for another year. Then, saw a little ring sized box on the dining room table that holds the replacement bulbs and the fuses for the tree lights that didn't get into the lights box. And later that night, a chubby little sitting cross legged santa in his horn rimmed glasses still looking at me from the kitchen window sill over the sink. Second try, now everything is put away. I think.

When you go up to the airline's counter, they will weigh your checked luggage. If it's over 50 lb, you'll have to remove some things or pay extra. They give you your boarding pass (if you haven't printed it out at home) and baggage claim tickets, and put airport tags on your checked bags. You take your luggage over to the TSA screening area, and you don't see it again. It cannot be locked! Don't put anything valuable in your checked bag, like a camera or jewelry. Go thru security line, taking off your coat and shoes as you stand in line if possible. Keep your boarding pass and driver's license in your hand. Put your shoes, coat, and purse in a tray and put it on the conveyor belt. Put your large carry-on on the conveyor belt. Walk thru the x-ray arch, then pick up your stuff off the belt and put on your shoes (some airports have benches to sit on). Stop on the way to your gate to buy a bottle of water and any food you might want. (Most airlines offer free water, soda, and coffee, but you'll probably have to pay for any food other than a tiny bag of peanuts or pretzels. Airport food is better than airplane food.) Use the restroom just before you get on the plane, as you may sit on the plane for hours before you actually take off and you won't be able to leave your seat. Once you get through security you can put your license away. They just need your boarding pass. When you get on the plane, if you think you'll want a pillow or blanket, grab one from a seat as you walk by. There may not be one on your seat. Many airlines have cut way back on pillows. You will have to turn your cell phone off when the plane leaves the gate. You can turn it on as soon as you land, before you get off the plane. To change planes, look for a monitor as soon as you get off the plane. Make sure it says "departures" at the top and find your departure gate (look for the city you're flying to). You shouldn't have to go through security again, unless you leave the terminal, like to go outside to smoke. If you have a lot of time between flights, get a drink or food or do some shopping. If you have more than an hour or so, double check your departure gate, as they often change. You don't want to be sitting at the wrong gate. Make sure you keep medications in your carry-on, not your checked bag.

I'm still here. I read the posts almost daily but just haven't posted myself. Although I surely miss my husband I am thankful for the 6+ years we had together. I still look over to see him when I wake up in the morning. I've had some issues with an event concerning his son which happened and saddened him about two weeks before his death . I am learning to just "let it go." That isn't as easy as it sounds but I am trying. On the plus side I have wonderful family to help me. In particular a son-in-law who come over every Tuesday evening, prepares supper, and helps me with various tasks. He does this because my daughter stays late at work on those evenings. More and more I realize that I have been blessed with a kind and considerate family. And what a blessing it is!! I keep track of all of you amd your stories. Might mention that in going through my husband's things I found a packet containing every picture I ever sent him and a lock of my red hair. He had told me he carried it in his pocket all during the war. Those pictures are 70 years old!!! he had kept them in the bottom of a trunk all these years. Thanks for asking about me.