There is, indeed, rain. The rain torrents and abates. And does it again. We have had so many inches, it seems like summer around here. The sky has disappeared and there is only a low hanging slightly fuzzy light grey blanket above. And a darker grey sheet beneath. It is wet. Today might be the first since the rains started that I have seen no sun and no blue anywhere…
Continuing the wintry weather, the backyard go thoroughly soaked, though it was much warmer. It is about the same as the previous four winters we’ve lived here, but this has surely been the most enjoyable. I do wonder, though, where all the wild life goes when it is this soggy out. The raccoon and deer as well as the birds. The ducks seem ok with it. They move off the…
It was freezing last night. In the morning, the grass was dotted with frozen sections. They looked like early fall snowflakes on the ground. I donned several layers of clothes and went outside, and sat on a cushion to wait for the backyard to come alive. I particularly wanted the otters, but they did not show. Yesterday’s exciting account is still not written. Soon. As I waited in the…
I am as exhausted as I can be, and hardly feel like living up to my commitment. But there you have it – needs must. The backyard endured a torrential downpour and remained dignified and gorgeous. This magnificent bird,flew down onto the lawn this morning before the store. I made some sound or other and he flew to the other side. At one point I made this picture of the…
Nothing. And all things. I’m surprised that after almost six months of daily observation and photographing the backyard wild, it remains so new, and I still enjoy it to such a degree. Actually, this moon, this is pretty new and exciting. It was late afternoon, the temperature falling as the sun set bathed the tree tops in light, the moon sat high on the other side. I am inordinately pleased…
It is more than halfway through my 30 day challenge. I’m not entirely pleased with the quality of my writing, and will be rather relieved not to have to do this everyday. Yet, I feel like the obligation is useful since practicing a skill means improving that skill – usually. So, it turns out that what I enjoy most about this challenge is being able to take note of both…
Early this morning the birds twittered, the squirrels chattered, and the water rocked the fallen leaves gently, gently. The little birds were active and noisy. The waders were missing: no egrets or herons, no ibises. Then the wind came. The bright blue sky amid the high light clouds swiftly overtaken by thick clouds, dark clouds. Then the birds were silent for a bit, the squirrels were motionless and all that…
This afternoon, the backyard journey extended several miles to the north end of Tampa – Lettuce Lake Park. It is a 240 acre park with a tremendous boardwalk over a swamp that feels almost primitive. The sight of alligators lounging on fallen logs, and snakes curled around themselves next to pond lilies do nothing but enhance that feeling. It is a wonderful place, a half an hour away, that I…
Overnight the world broke into a million tiny shards and fell upon the water. Well, it looked like that this morning, at any rate. As the day dawned the rain fell in large flll droplets and the wind created a grey sheet around the backyard. It is remarkable how the quality of the mornings changes with the gusting winds. As the winds slowed and the curtain of shadows slowly lifted,…
A big reason we moved to this house was the backyard. For obvious reasons. That was four years ago. Over the last six months, I’ve grown in my appreciation not just of the beauty of the vista, but at the idea that I share this space with so many others. Occasionally, I feel like an intruder. I am that, unquestionably, so I think of the feeling as a good thing….