The in-between time

I feel like I'm treading water, immobilized, going neither forward nor backward. On hold, waiting. The days are longer, but still not very long. Winter is waning, but it's not spring. I'm making mental lists for garden and house chores, but not actually starting anything.

A pruned section of grape vines on a frosty morning.

On Monday morning I was out back emptying the ash bucket when I noticed some movement on the ground. At first I thought it was a bird, but then realized it was too small. And it was moving through the grass very un-bird like. I stood completely still and watched as it meandered toward me. Then I saw it plainly and, at that very moment, it disappeared into a hole in the lawn. A mole! I had never seen a live mole on the ground before.