January 2026 Sending and Swans

Food Groceries $719.45

Food out $202.77

Pets $77.07
Household consumables/ Toiletries $103.40

Vitamins $42.94
Clothing $0
Stuff $0

Total 2026 Spending: $1145.63

Number of THINGS purchased: 0

NO Spend days: SEVENTEEN

Average daily spending for 2026: $36.96

Divided by four: $9.24 a day per person

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Spice: swans 

I drive past some gorgeous wetland areas on my way to work each morning. One particular spot is a nesting area for tons of enormous white swans. Seeing the swans each morning brings me such joy. They are magnificent birds. I love spying them sitting on their nests, floating along with their cygnets, ducking their heads under water for food, or just regally floating.

By observation I found out this year that the swans don’t fly south. I’d been observing the large population of swans floating in an ever shrinking spot of open water wondering why they weren’t leaving. The open water kept getting smaller and smaller. The swans huddled closer and closer together. Until one day during this mini ice age the open water closed shut and the swans were suddenly gone. I mean it was inevitable but I wondered at their winter plight.

I realize that nature with its intense awe inspiring beauty is also harsh and unforgiving. The lion eats the gazelle. There are moths that emerge from their cocoons with no mouth or ability to eat; they flutter through nature solely able to lay eggs. Some insects mate and then get devoured by their mate. The list goes on. None the less I’ve been saddened by the disappearance of the swans knowing that they’re out there somewhere, lack of open water, in this frigid awful weather. I have actually been worried about them.

Well yesterday, day two of glorious sunshine I spied not only open water by so many big fluffy gorgeous swans. It was such a joy seeing them well, seeing them floating and sunning themselves, regardless of the bitter cold. My joy was full because of the swans.

And funny enough my daughter’s storybook Bible reading yesterday was about how God cares for the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the field. So we need not worry ourselves about tomorrow.