It was so gorgeous here in the North Bay that I had the door open almost all day. That’s how it happened that I saw the turkey that strolled through my garden and peered in through the screen door, then meandered off. This future centerpiece had a tiny head and a black wing feather sticking straight up off its back. That’s how I recognized it the second time it walked through the yard. It didn’t come to the door that time, though.

But wait. I didn’t mean to talk about big, black birds again. The point I was making was that it was a great day, and I was stuck inside doing my usual Monday chores and then some. I don’t know why everything has to happen at once (and to me!), but there you go. I got the time cards Saturday, but I couldn’t even start on the payroll until 3:30 this afternoon, and five hours later I was still working on it. Feh.

I’m not complaining about the work itself. I just wish I could have taken advantage of a day like this to get some trimming done in the yard. The good weather might not hold until I do have some free time, or until the weekend when I know I will. There’s so much to do, and so little time, that all I can do is stare wistfully out through the screen door. And then get back to work. Unless, of course, there’s a turkey staring back at me.

I did have a few moments of diversion, late in my crowded day. David and Dakota dropped by to use my fax. Actually, only David wanted to use the fax. Dakota mostly wanted to con David into letting him explore my loft. “No upstairs,” David would say emphatically. “No ‘no upstairs,’” Dakota would respond, just as seriously. But he didn’t go upstairs, and he was good-natured about it. Also loud, but you can be loud out here in the country, and nobody complains but the turkeys.