into winter,
there is still light
a flash of white in sunlit grasses
and tess appears!
not far from the place where i spotted a kingfisher
several times, but
didn't see this day, probably gone south.
we see ducks here, too.
which tess ignores.
i mean, there could be grouse close by so--off she goes.
in the corner closest to my little garden between the granite ledges
paper wasps were practicing their craft.
this is BIG.
raccoon activity along the road
and i've taken to talking back to these ravens
who gather nearby and quark loudly,
as teenagers do.
there were seven yesterday.
i'd rather embarrass myself by quarking,
trying out conversation
trying out conversation
than take photos,
so i didn't get all seven.
popple/aspen and a trace.
and it's gotten very very cold.
in the single digits yesterday morning.
neighborhood barn
in front of which
a plenty of high bush cranberries.
quite a crop.
but they're my neighbor's,
not mine.
before the snow
it was clear and very cold.
and then it came
freezing everyone right up into little balls or broken pieces
but i love the cold
love how it makes me attend to its demands.
even though i do whine about it from time to time.
snow is expected again.
and the last of the sumac leaves here are gone.
one branch broke completely
showing sumac's fragile heart.
stay warm and well and creative.
and the sumac?
it was in the pot today and the prints are drying.