it won’t be long until my mornings, and evenings, on the deck will come to an end as the chillier days of autumn approach.

I love listening to the mourning doves who offer their gentle, mournful greeting.  We’ve been blessed with a continual round of dovess using our yard as their concert hall since moving here in 2002.

I also love our resident cardinals to take up their song later in the day.  As a young boy growing up in Indiana, I loved listening to the cardinals that lived in our walnut tree.  One of my bedroom windows look down into the cool shade of the backyard, and I can remember lying on my bed, next to the window, listening… just listening.

My three furry kids have been exploring the backyard four three quarters of an hour.  Chief just came up to the deck, followed by the girls, and they are all standing by the door.

Yes. I know. It’s time for breakfast.