Storing provisions in summer...

It might seem strange to be thinking about the cold winter nights on a bright sunny day like today, when the temperature was a mild and pleasant 25 degrees. But walking the dog in the woods is the perfect opportunity to gather up a bag of huge dry pine cones... in preparation for winter when the cones make such great kindling for getting the wood fire started in the fireplace. As rain is forecast for tomorrow, I gathered a big bag this morning and was able to fill a whole box in my spare room when I got home. Tobi is always fascinated by the pine scent and so she needed to investigate the big pile of pine cones right away.

I had to smile a little later when I was reading my Bible and happened to read in Proverbs chapter six, which warns us not to be a "sluggard" but to learn a lesson from the humble ant who "stores up provisions in summer." I guess baby Tommy didn't heed the warning about sleeping too much, though, because that seems to be how he spends most of his day. I did read somewhere that small kittens sleep sixteen to eighteen hours a day, and I can believe it. I remember that Teddi and Tobi were just the same at that age.