Unusually.

The year started off unusually wet. Now it's unusually windy. 

Sophie joins me in a sunrise tour of the garden. I look to see if any tree branches have come down in the night. She keeps a look out for C-A-T-S.

The daffodils now out en masse. Sophie is oblivious to daffodils. 

The small garden snails seem to be attracted to one double headed  variety . A cursory, and non-scientific, check would indicate that it's only the double headed ones that attract them. All the other varieties are snail free.

It's getting warmer now. The temperature in double digits as we head off across country. Over the last couple of weeks it noticeably brighter in the mornings and lighter at night. The non-human world bursting with joy. We have been up super early talking to serious Bostonians and Manhattanites about Ukraine so walking a dog across country in the sunrise is a balm.

Sophie would not be good at this. Any patient coming in with a snack would distract her :https://daily.jstor.org/why-arent-there-more-dogs-at-the-doctors-office/

The beans for this chocolate come from small farms in southern India  :https://www.masonchocolate.com/2017/12/05/farmer-direct/