Ever since we moved to the desert I have been trying to figure out the rhythm of life here: the weather, daylight hours, the seasons. The arrival of snow geese marks the beginning of winter. They move from front yard to front yard, chatting, sometimes sunbathing in the street, causing cars to line up waiting for the birds to awake from their slumber. Finley likes to sit in the kitchen window to watch and listen to the chatter.