Before dawn, that soft blue hour where the night is still holding on, a fox crossed the back. Just a quick appearance. A flicker of movement. Red against the cold dark. No drama, no sound, just a quiet reminder that the day was already awake before I was.

It felt like a little benediction. A blink and you miss it moment. The kind of thing that does not ask to be photographed or posted in real time. It just happens, and then it is gone.

Later, while the gang was watching holiday TV not six feet away, Flying V made a pass too. One of our favorite chunky skunks, just casually strolling past the camera like it was nothing at all. Two wild check ins in less than a morning. The outside world doing its thing, right up against the glass.

Coffee came later. Light came later. But the fox and Flying V felt like the real start of the day.