Woke up about an hour ago, had a bowl of creamy mushroom soup and went outside to start shoveling. The snow had turned to sleet by the time I got out there. A good 5 inches of the mix, mostly loose snow, was on the ground.

I got some pictures of one of the dark-eyed juncos that have been hanging around yesterday, but the sun had went down too far to get good exposures. I'm going to try again Monday. Without my birding camera, I have to be sneaky to get close enough for a good shot. Sneaky in this case means feeding them on fenceless fenceposts near the window.

From the The Universal Household Assistant or What Every One Should Know (1884):

Cockroaches — ways to destroy. — 1. The disagreeable odor which the cockroach emits, and which soon permeates all places that it inhabits, proceeds from a dark colored fluid which it discharges from the mouth. The cockroach loves warmth and moisture, hence its populousness in kitchens where fire and water are almost ever present. It is a night prowler, and swarms out from its secret lairs on the departure of daylight.    For the destruction of the cockroach we recommend a mixture containing a tablespoonful of red lead, the same amount of indian meal, with molasses enough to make a thick batter. Set this on a plate at night in places frequented by the insects and all that eat of it will be poisoned. Another preparation is composed of one teaspoonful of powdered arsenic, with a tablespoonful of mashed potato. Crumble this every night at bed-time where the insects will find it, and it is said to be an effectual poison. Great care should be exercised in the use of such dangerous agents. An innocent method of destroying cockroaches is to place a bowl or basin containing a little molasses on the floor at night. A bit of wood, resting one end on the floor and the other on the edge of the vessel, serves as a bridge to conduct the insects to the sweet deposit. Once in the trap its slippery sides prevent retreat, and thus cockroaches may be caught by the thousands.    2. The following i said to be effectual: these vermin are easily destroyed, simply by cutting up green cucumbers at night, and placing them about where roaches commit depredations. What is cut from the cucumbers in preparing them for the table answers the purpose as well, and three applications will destroy all the roaches in the house. Remove the peelings in the morning and renew them at night.    3. Common red wafers, to be found at any stationers, will answer the purpose. The cockroaches eat them and die. Also, sprinkle powdered borax plentifully around where "they most do congregate," and renew it occasionally; in a short time not a roach will be seen. This is a safe and most effectual exterminator.    4. Borax is a very good cockroach exterminator. Take some pieces of board, spread them over with molasses, only sufficient to make the borax when sprinkled upon it stick, and place the boards in their haunts. Gum camphor is a speedy remedy to clear the house of cockroaches.

My birding camera is still giving me a lot of grief. I'll get it working only to lose power again in less than a minute. I'm more and more convinced the problem is internal, and the prospects of getting it fixed anytime soon are dim. Even so, I was able to get a few shots with it at the Arlington Reservoir today.


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I am thankful for the chance to have seen not just one sunset, but hundreds. To be able to bear witness to some small part of the Glory of the Universe. Sure, sometimes I do ask for more, sometimes I am impatient and even jealous. But, that is my own failing. I must be more mindful of what I have. I have tasted fire and touched wind, what more should I want?

I've spent most of today and a good deal of yesterday helping purpleglitter with her pre-move. Making boxes, packing, bringing stuff downstairs. The birds in the new apartment, each got to spend a little bit of time just enjoying the outdoors and listening to the outdoor birdie sounds. I keep hearing a finch up here still, perhaps it's Isobel's ghost.

I made sure to catch the sunset this evening, as I won't have the spectacular vantage point after purpleglitter moves. I took a number of pictures, and will likely be posting them from the house_of_clocks tomorrow. I've got 30-60 minutes of work to do, then I'm off to bed.

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 the movers arrive. I'm about to disconnect this computer and bring it down.

The blood from my nose looks like a beautiful sunset on my napkin.

The is no boundary between the "human world" and the "natural world", they are one and the same. Humans are natural, are part of nature, therefore anything we do is a natural occurrence. A car is no less natural than a tree. A city is built from nothing that did not come from the Earth. All we build and do is in nature, is of nature, is part of nature.

Look at the city. It is alive. It is a breathing thing and it is not just a human place. A host of animals make it their home. As I walk around Boston, I see the geese and the squirrels and the raccoons and the skunks. They are all part of the living city.

Look at the pigeon. Pigeons are type of dove and they are things of beauty. We are blessed by the Universe to have our cities filled with doves. How could that wonderment not make one smile?

How can one look upon a city and think it is solely the work of humans? Where has the ore come from for the steel? Humans could not create anything, we do not have the power of creation, we can only use, modify, and adapt that what is provided for us. The Universe is the only thing that has the power to provide for us.

It is in its glory enough for us to look on and give thanks to simply have been allowed to glimpse upon it. Look upon the vastness a sunset, the complexity of a simple grain of corn, the towering skyline of a great city. They are all the All. To truly look upon such greatness, one is humbled. Not humbled because of fear of some token God, some vengeful idol. Humbled because at the site of the All there can be no other response.

The immenseness and greatness and wonderment of the Universe is so grand that it is a blessing just to be a very small part of it. It is a blessing to look upon any piece and know that that piece was meant for you to see. That that glory was meant for you, in your own small part, to be witness to.

God is not some thing watching from the sky. God is the sky and the dust and the road and the grain. God is All and All is God.