It's the little things that keep me going.

It's been a relatively warm, mild winter in Pittsburgh this year, which while good for our heating bill, is not as high on the loveliness scale as some good old-fashioned new-fallen snow.

But I just went out to put a new bag in the garbage can (which seems apropos on a grubby, muddy day like today) and I saw a whole flock of cardinals (which I've only ever seen in ones or twos) take off from my lawn. Like rose petals falling up.

Little things.