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We keep the bags of birdseed in a metal can that we purchased for this purpose long ago. At the same time, we bought a plastic scoop for carrying the seed from the can to the bird feeder. My normal routine is to open the can, scoop some seed, carry it to the feeder, then return the scoop to the can and close it. Simple enough, yes? Well, a couple of days ago, while refilling the feeder, I noticed that its roof needed cleaning. I got a disinfecting wipe and cleaned the feeder, threw the wipe away, and didn't think any more about it.
That evening, when I went to bring more firewood in from the porch, I noticed that the birdseed can was still open. I got the lid and closed it, thinking that it was a good thing the birds hadn't discovered the Mother Lode.
The next day, I went to get more seed from the can and the scoop was missing. I hunted around the area and looked inside the house and outside in all of the places I could think I might have set it down. Nothing. Lisa also searched and could not find it. Annoyed, I decided that I'd just have to buy a new scoop when we go to Big R to buy a load of firewood, which will probably sometime this week.
This morning, I got to still puzzling over this missing scoop when it dawned on me that there was one place I hadn't looked. I went out to the side of the road where I had taken our trash bin last night for this afternoon's pickup. Looking inside, I found that sure enough, I'd somehow thrown the scoop into the bin when I threw away the disinfectant wipe. Fortunately, it was not difficult to fish the scoop out of the bin. I'm lucky it occurred to me to go and have a look before the bin was dumped later today.
I guess this shows how much of what I do in my morning routine is on auto-pilot while I think about what needs to be done today. The next time the feeder needs cleaning, I need to remember to go put the scoop away and close the birdseed can before cleaning the feeder, lest I make the same mistake again.
That evening, when I went to bring more firewood in from the porch, I noticed that the birdseed can was still open. I got the lid and closed it, thinking that it was a good thing the birds hadn't discovered the Mother Lode.
The next day, I went to get more seed from the can and the scoop was missing. I hunted around the area and looked inside the house and outside in all of the places I could think I might have set it down. Nothing. Lisa also searched and could not find it. Annoyed, I decided that I'd just have to buy a new scoop when we go to Big R to buy a load of firewood, which will probably sometime this week.
This morning, I got to still puzzling over this missing scoop when it dawned on me that there was one place I hadn't looked. I went out to the side of the road where I had taken our trash bin last night for this afternoon's pickup. Looking inside, I found that sure enough, I'd somehow thrown the scoop into the bin when I threw away the disinfectant wipe. Fortunately, it was not difficult to fish the scoop out of the bin. I'm lucky it occurred to me to go and have a look before the bin was dumped later today.
I guess this shows how much of what I do in my morning routine is on auto-pilot while I think about what needs to be done today. The next time the feeder needs cleaning, I need to remember to go put the scoop away and close the birdseed can before cleaning the feeder, lest I make the same mistake again.
