I am confident it won’t come as any surprise to you when I write my next words: (Virtually cracking knuckles to limber up my fingers.)

Life has had the joy sucked out of it like a little lamb suckling milk from its mother’s teats.

Go ahead and giggle; I used the word teats. Haha

Why, you may ask, am I thinking about lambs and teats? Well, today, February 1, if you’re reading this today on February 1; if not and you’re reading it on April 23 or August 18 or some other date, allow me to inform you the date of writing this post was, in fact, February 1, which was Imbolc.

Imbolc, is a pagan sabbat that celebrates the halfway point between winter and spring AND, in keeping with the suckling theme, marks the time from back in the day when ewes began to lactate in preparation for birthing lambs.

Feel free to use this link where you’ll find a well-written (ahem) post about Imbolc. (Sly grin.) https://concordriverlady.com/2017/02/02/imbolc-2017-brigids-day/

Now, back to life…and suckling, I mean sucking. Again you may be asking why I’m on this kick about life being devoid of joy? My answer would be: Come on, for Pete’s sake, look around; things presently suck the big teat and I’m not just referring to politics or that-which-shall-not-be-named.

COVID COVID COVID

Ha, put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Here’s my list of things that are presently sucking in my little corner of the Concord River.

I found a Painted turtle hatchling in the middle of the driveway.

The poor little thing was frozen solid and I can’t imagine why he was trying to cross the driveway in the first place when the wind chill brought the temperature down to minus 12. It’s January, or was January, and hatchlings should have the proper innate mindset to stay buried in the mud until the weather is more conducive to taking a leisurely stroll to the river. But, nooooo, not this little creature, thus leaving me with a hatchling popsicle. I brought it into the house to warm up (ever the optimist) with the hopes it would come back to life.

No luck. Although the hatchling thawed, it remain motionless; basically dead. Sigh.

Next on the Sucking Hit List was the headless Tufted Titmouse I found in my yard.

I’m sure you don’t need me to explain how this happened.

The guilty party is always nearby, watching and waiting for my songbirds to put down their guard, or heads, as in this case.

The Cooper’s hawk ate a variety of birds over the past week. After the titmouse, the hawk munched on a Slate-colored junco.

At least I think this was a junco. I put my little stretchy glove in the photo to help give the scattering of feathers perspective. I’m not sure how the glove helped but, hey, I took an online course in perspective and I’m trying to utilize what I learned.

Número quatro on the list — I dropped my phone. I was trying to take a movie of this cool waterfall and while straddling the flow I slipped. It was going to be either me or the phone.

This is the third phone of mine the Concord River has claimed. Perhaps I should move to the mountains. At least the first video I took uploaded to the cloud before my phone went ker-plunk.

Rounding off the Sucky List is my anxiety. Man, oh man, I wish there was a way I could explain the physical pain I feel during an attack, along with the mental anguish I suffer.

Alright, I’ve had enough with this list. It’s time to find some pockets of joy in my life and I’ll start with the songbirds that haven’t been eaten by the hawk.

Ahhhh, now that’s better. More please.

I found an American Goldfinch who was a friendly little fellow, or gal. In it’s winter plumage it was hard to tell.

When it’s hard to find pockets of joy I need to create some. Try this video on for size.

Pockets of joy rock.

Let me think if I have any others.

How about painting? My therapist keeps telling me, ‘Action alleviates anxiety.’ Well, since I can’t get outside and garden I’ve turned once again to my acrylic paints.

I’m not trained in the least and I only write this so you’ll oooooo and aaaaaaa over the above painting. Did it work? How about now?

If you’d like to start painting to help with your anxiety or any other emotional ailment you might be suffering from, watch this video then head to Michelle’s website. But before you do, please subscribe to my channel. Pretty please.

Based on the above evidence the pockets of joy seem to be outweighing the suckiness, but not by much. I’ll work harder to find the joy. Until then, thank you for reading my little blog. (Hey, having you as a reader is a pocket of joy too! Cool.)

Blessed be :}

Mi manchi, mia amata immortale.