The thing about writing is the thing about everything else. For some reason it’s not as obvious with writing. Someone who throws a knife or two at the ol’ stump out back on bank holidays will never be ready for the Greatest Show on Earth.

The obvious punch line is, “stand back,” or something. As you can see, the blades are already glancing wild.

Simultaneously in the yard at 10am; not long after I rose–

Northern red-shafted flicker, downy woodpecker, house finches, Steller’s jay, dark-eyed juncos, ~ 100 robins, black-capped chickadees, chestnut-backed chickadee, bushtits, varied thrush, song sparrow, starling.

Sighted in the abutting hours: great blue heron, ruby-crowned kinglet, hermit thrush, band-tailed pigeons, crows, Anna’s hummingbirds, Seattle (Bewick's) wrens.