Stacked

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Great Swamp, dead mice, lunch dates, crafts, chickens, and unexpected guests… where does one begin?

Let’s start with the dead mice, two, to be exact. Apparently, our basement cat has become quite the mouser…but stepping on a dead carcass first thing in the morning isn’t exactly how I like to start my day. One small mouse lay in the middle of my kitchen floor, another in the basement. Tim asked if I was sure the cat got them. My guess? They didn’t both drop dead in the middle of a room from natural causes. So, with the bad news that mice are roaming at night, and the good news that our cat seems to be on the hunt, it’s clear a lot happens while we sleep.

Shaking off the feeling of that unpleasant wake-up call, I headed out for a hike in Great Swamp, hands down my favorite place on earth. It might even beat the beach. I visited the monument and felt the sunshine on my face as it struggled to filter through the trees and reach the path. Great Swamp is sacred, beautiful land, and the presence of the past lingers in the air. I’m always amazed at how many people are unfamiliar with the story of the Great Swamp Massacre, we should all try to learn more about our local history whenever possible. 

After a beautiful morning, a friend met me for lunch, such a treat. We then worked on a craft I’ve been meaning to try again, realizing it was a bit harder than I remembered. But doesn’t that make the final product even more special? We were making sea glass bowls; with a bit more work, they’ll hopefully come together. I’ll be sure to share an update (and maybe a picture).

Heading home, Tim called to tell me he caught our egg-eating hen red-handed, with a mouth full of yolk and a half-eaten egg in front of her. He removed her from the flock and set her up in a separate part of the coop where she can’t access the nesting boxes. He hated the idea of isolating her, but it had to be done to figure out if she’s the only culprit. She’s safe, with plenty of food, water, and a cozy little house to sleep in, so it’s hardly a dungeon.

Not long after I got home, I had friends at my front door… surprise! I had sent out a text to a few gals about a mahjong get-together next week, but one friend didn’t check the date and excitedly showed up last night with another friend, ready to play. It turned out to be a perfect mistake. The three of us snacked on the appetizers she brought (thinking there’d be a full group), played several games, and enjoyed our unexpected gathering. She’s an old high school friend, so there’s no worrying about a clean house or any of that nonsense, one of the many gifts of lifelong friendships. I’ve always loved drop-by guests; the best surprises come through my door.

By the time my head hit the pillow, that dead mouse was almost a distant memory… almost. And maybe that’s the rhythm of these days, unexpected, a little messy, but stacked full of stories worth telling.