Maria reports that our backyard thermometer read 14 degrees this morning, reports Maria, and for the first time, The Weather Channel agreed with her. Honestly, my eyes were not good enough to read the thermometer too well, and I didn’t yet have my glasses on. I need one for close-ups. It feels like a warm-up.

I mention this because I got another classic Outstanding Yenta Of The Year message yesterday from Barbara E, a vigilant reader with social media manners: “The thermometer in your picture shows – 14, not -20. It’s a pretty sad commentary,” Barbara wrote, “on your level of attention to detail if you can’t even read a picture you are posting.”

I can do worse than that every day, Barbara; you are not reading the blog daily. Fortunately, there are better things for me to do than read someone else’s outdoor thermometer at sunrise.  I am picturing what might happen if someone spied on my Grandmother’s ancient outdoor thermometer and told her she was a sloppy reader.

I sometimes think George Orwell’s ghost is stalking me. Big Brother was nothing compared to the prying eyes of the Social Media Yentas.

People tell me I can be too nasty to the Orwellian element of modern media; I’m a little too nice, to be honest. Since I can’t write what I am thinking, it’s best to try to have some fun. I am laughing, honest.

It’s great to have something to do while going to the bathroom.

Barbara, this is an unfortunate commentary. I’m taking it as a compliment to the blog that people get up early in the morning to monitor my reading of the backyard thermometer (you are not the first) as I go to the bathroom. I doubt that even happens at Mar-a-Largo. I had no idea I was that interesting.  Better to laugh than cry.

In the real world, this was the first two-digit reading in days, and Maria called me from the pasture to say it was balmy. She wore too many layers,  she said, so  I told her to call Barbara to explain this. Maria is invincible.

I’m happy to report that I’m learning a lot from the Finches, who are also beginning to look at me and hang around. There were no Starlyings this morning; Pincus must have been cruising around.

I figured out that they eat in 20-minute passages, swarm the feeder, and then go to the store, share, or eat the feed. Then, they return in messages for more, and I am learning that this is the best time to get close. They are so busy eating that they pay no attention to me.

I love learning about them and figuring out how to photograph them.