The April Fools’ Day snow lay about 3 inches deep in our driveway when we left Bristol Sunday morning. My aunt had called a week before to tell us that Lewis, my 92-year-old uncle, would be flying to Baltimore with Honor Flight Maine and would return on Sunday, April 2.

I think we all have a closeness to the friendly, inquisitive chipmunk; the little hustler, nose to the ground, gleans seeds under our bird feeders. The chipmunk is recognized by adults and youth alike; it seems everyone enjoys watching it skirmish with songbirds or other chipmunks and it’s difficult to ignore its strong commitment to hoarding for its winter sustenance.

Well here I sit, just a-wonderin’ what I’m gonna scribble about this week. Have done all the squawkin’ about the weather one can do, and it’s snowin’ now as I write this! Have done some serious belly-achin’ about the state of the roads in our state, and politics, well, let’s just say I wished it was a joke, but I’m afraid that the way things seem to be going it might be closer to a nightmare instead!

The Roman diet

The Romans of old were faced with the problem of feeding the entire Roman army at an absolute minimum cost, while ensuring that its diet would be sufficient to keep all members strong and healthy enough to fight and win the battles needed to establish and maintain the entire Roman Empire.

George and I spent the day Wednesday in Rockland. It was a fun day. We saw Susanne and Denis very busy shopping.

Another column done by hand. My favorite printer needs repair beyond new ink. So here goes!

“Bed is too small for my tiredness. Give me a hilltop with trees. Tuck a cloud up under my head. Lord, blow the moon out, please.”

No repellent is 100 percent effective and some can be harmful to small children and pets. The good news is that one has choices. Products containing DEET – diethyltoluamide — have always been the go-to, but we are now learning that DEET can build up and cause toxic health levels in small children. To avoid this, always wash repellent off every day and before reapplying. There are lots of other repellent options one can to go, both at home and on the shelf.

The winter of 2016-2017 is coughing up a last few attempts with snow, sleet, freezing rain, and just plain rain, with the possibility of something over the weekend – April Fool’s Day. No worries, it’s happened before and we can do this as spring is knocking on the door.

Birders desiring to see the “woodcock dance” brave the cool damp evening air, with flashlight in hand, visiting an open field. To listen for the eerie peent call and see the downward display flight and “song” of the American Woodcock, Scolopax minor, portends an interesting evening. The “song” is actually a product of the bird’s wings.