The birds have come back. We were out of bird seed for a few days and it was strange not to have a crowd at the feeder. The chickadees and sparrows, small birds, are the first to return. And then, while writing this note, a hawk swooped into the yard and found its breakfast, a mouse, in the tall grass near the fence. The other birds will stay hidden for a while until they're sure that the danger has passed.

In the overnight email, I learned that the mother of my friend Don passed away yesterday. She had had to bury her husband and both of her sons. Now, we hope, she can get some rest.