HELLO FROM CATHERINE

I always look forward to writing this personal letter to you, my readers, but it is a particular pleasure today because I know I am going to be extremely busy over the next many months writing books and getting caught up. Chances are good that I won't have much time to visit my Guestbook or Bulletin Board.

Nothing much has changed here on Cinnamon Ridge except that the younger Ponderosa pines have grown a bit taller and my deer herd has multiplied. This year we have countless yearlings who come to visit us every day. Some have familiar little faces. Others are new to our refuge. All of them are darling. Those who came last year as tiny fawns are now very bold, for they know this is a safe place when our dogs are in the house or in their pen. They eat our new spring grass, any garden plant that looks appetizing, and greatly enjoy deer blocks, salt blocks, fresh water, and daily rations of wet cob. Many of the does visit as well, though not as frequently during the day because it is spring, the season of new birth, and they are caring for their tiny fawns.

The squirrels abound, needless to say. I haven't seen Einstein yet this year, but I'm sure he'll be peeking in the French doors at us again soon. We also have another new favorite in the wildlife kingdom, a sparrow I've named Whirly-Jig. Last spring, I hung plastic spirals over all our back windows in the hope that the spinning plastic might prevent birds from flying into the glass. The whirly-jigs worked pretty well, so they are still up. My husband says our house looks like a carnival tent, but at least the birds are safer. Anyway, one little sparrow discovered that zooming in to land on a whirly-jig is loads of fun. Dozens of times a day, he swoops down, grabs hold, and goes for a dizzying spin at my office bay window. Afterward, he clings to the spiral, looking in at me—or perhaps at my canaries. When the birds flew south last fall, I said farewell to Whirly-Jig, convinced that I'd never see him again. Wrong! About a month ago, he startled me half out of my skin when he swooped in at high speed to catch a ride on a spiral. The plastic hit the glass with a loud pop, and there he was, my little friend, dancing from spiral to spiral, as if to say hello. If a bird can grin, Whirly-Jig does. I wish you could see him going on his whirly-jig thrill rides. He is too cute for words.

And so another summer begins on Cinnamon Ridge. The robins are here, looking for likely places to build new nests, and the sparrows are checking out the bird houses, and the small squirrels and chipmunks are coming out of hibernation, much to the delight of our dogs, who can once again race about through the forest, barking at trees or digging in hot pursuit of an interloper who has dived into a hidey-hole.

I am looking forward to many beautiful, sunny days, enjoying the view from my office windows. The deer will come up to say hello. Squirrels will climb the window screens to look in at me. And Whirly-Jig has returned to entertain me with his twirling antics.

It promises to be a wonderful summer on Cinnamon Ridge. I hope that all of you have an equally delightful season, no matter where you may live across the world. Big hugs to all of you. I hope many wonderful new books find their way into your hands.

Sincerely,

Catherine