It is the last day of November and the wind is fierce off the lake tonight, rattling the windows. This cottage is old and heats unevenly and not well. Still, today, I was watching gulls move through the wind, back and forth just off my front yard. It was such a play between wind and feathers and suddenly they would swoop down out of sight. Perhaps there was something tasty on the beach. In the strong wind, they moved slowly and I could see gull features quite well, like wing tips, tails, mantles...

I stopped at the Ludington wastewater management place coming from Townsend, walked in the Admin office, looked at the 3 guys working with test tubes and just said, "birds" and one replied, "No Little gulls today..." but he was kidding. He didn't know if there were any out there or not.

I went out and got to look through a Swarovski spotting scope! Absolutely beautiful optically. The gentleman who owned it and was also Little gull seeking had it focused on a frenetic group of Bonaparte's, and I could see them so clearly. He THOUGHT he had found a Little gull, but I didn't see it. Still, it was worth stopping for the chance to look through one of these amazing scopes.

It is the night before Thanksgiving and the wind is blowing and rain is spitting against the windows. I am most grateful for my near and far family..children, grandchildren, sisters, brother, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. When I listen to the radio and all the talk about holidays and family chaos and the (IMO) overused word "dysfunctional" families, I wonder how they got that way. As someone said, it's just life. I am grateful for shelter and food and birds and books and the blessing of parents who gave me so much.

Heading to Townsend tomorrow for Thanksgiving with the Wetzels.