the pulse of life

When we were driving back from Ohio, we saw a number of large flocks of geese heading south for the winter. It reminded me of a morning a few weeks ago when I was driving through Middlebury. The skies overhead were filled with geese. The sizes of the formations ranged from 2 to 102. They were heading in all directions at a number of different elevations. A feeling somewhere between awe and elation rose up as I tried to take in the scene.
At first it seemed like something you would see on the plains of Africa, but then it reminded me of our trip to Alaska a few years ago. It didn't take long to see that the pulse of life beats very strongly there during the summer season. The swirling of life all around me that morning in the Valley of Vermont evoked a very similar sensation.

Thanksgiving

The climate in November in places like Vermont is usually cold, dark, and gloomy. Somehow the weather outside provides a perfect contrast to what's going on inside at Thanksgiving; light, laughter, love, coupled with the smells coming from the kitchen. I'll let the pictures do the talking.







We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Ohio. I'm sure I'll get toasted in my blog off with Liz, but, as far as I'm concerned, there really isn't anything more to say.

over the river...

Cloudy. 20 turkeys feasting in a corn field in Proctor. Deer hunting season has begun. Trucks parked along the roads. Christmas wreaths and road salt for sale in the markets. Getting the wood rack out of the attic along with some suitcases as we go over the river, and through the woods (sort of) to grandmother's house for Thanksgiving.

"Beaver" moon

Stopping by the store on the way home Friday night, ringing of the Salvation Army bell. Clementines and Golden Egg Nog on sale inside. When I went out to empty the ash from the wood stove, the moon was shining brightly. I looked around to get my celestial bearings, and was shocked to see that the sky was almost devoid of stars. I stopped and did a reasonably thorough inventory. I counted eight stars. I never realized the degree to which starlight is washed out by a full moon. The full moon, the "Beaver" moon, is tonight

bonsai tamaracks

Sunny. Calendar kiosk opens up at the mall. Snowmobile on a trailer on South Main Street. Asparagus yellowing in the back. I realized the other day that they are almost like a bonsai version of the tamaracks. They have roughly the same kind of branches, and, at this time of year, they are the same color.

shiny

Cloudy. This is a time of year when water in ponds and streams takes on a darker appearance. Because of the brown colors nearby, it appears warm, dark, shiny, and metallic. It reminds me of the color of a wood stove.

mowed under

Rainy. Last of the brush hogging was done yesterday. The tractor is gone from the lower field. Thanksgiving decorations appear at work. Cranberries, chestnuts, and tangerines arrive in the markets. Vermont Wildflower Farm is closed for the season. The fields have been mowed under