I heard, then saw, the first red-winged blackbirds of the season last evening in the wetland. We had another gorgeous day near 60 and with the extra hour of sunlight in the evening, I took dog for a walk after dinner. There were so many people out walking, all ages, all ethnicities. And everyone was smiling. It was a nice evening and nice to see people again after our very cold ICE-y winter. I was thinking that if the thugs had to invade like they did, the dead of winter was the best time to do it. We treasure those few months of nonwinter. I hope they don't return in summer and terrorize us again. Anyway, I think about how I could take pictures of all I see (like the 11 swans yesterday) but in doing so, I lose the moment. There is something to be said for living in the moment. Disrupting it to take a picture ruins the memory.

I also noticed the catkins on my 'Prairie Horizon' Manchurian alder tree have burst open. I'm so glad the tree we planted last spring has survived its first winter, after losing the first one we planted to a deer rub. I'm so excited about this tree, and look forward to watching it grow. We had to get it, as this particular variety was developed at our alma mater which is located in my hometown.

But alas, winter returns tonight.

Dumbest comment I've seen in a long time, from MN congressman Tom Emmer: oil prices will drop once the Iran war is over. Well duh. And prices went up because of the war. Effing idiot. Speaking of idiots, the war is also stopping the production of urea, used by farmers to fertilize their fields, so prices for that are skyrocketing, just as planting season approaches. I'm sure we'll hear more wailing and whining from the farmers who voted for this administration. They screwed the farmers the first term and the idiots voted for them to screw themselves a second term. What's that saying, fool me once... Not a lot of intelligence coming from that community. If they would just give a little instead of always taking, I'd have more sympathy. But they continue to destroy the environment, draining wetlands, cutting down trees, not rotating crops, spraying chemicals that drift to neighboring properties, polluting groundwater. But there is no compromise from them, just give us more more more.

And I'm getting really annoyed by the pearl-clutching war alarmists. We've got people out there saying the US has sent loaded nuclear missiles into Iran. Believe me, if this had happened we'd be hearing about it. Yes, this war is wrong, but let's speak truth about it.

Didn't sleep well at all last night. Thought today was Wednesday when I was on my walk. I can tell already what kind of day it will be.