A Walk on an Icy Morn

Bird News

Over the past week some birds are newly arrived. A flock of Mountain Bluebirds were a pleasant surprise, the brilliant blue in stark contrast with the bland browns of winter fields. They seemed to sneak into the area between storms. We have also had American Robins come back into town.




It seems that the first signs of spring are here, but no real sign of spring in the air. It has also been the start of the birth of some of our most notable locals, calves and kids. We hope they hold up against the snow and the blow.

Winter on the Plains

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. I am now feeling the need to breathe some life back into the winter through writing about it with hopes that spring will be back sooner. I guess I have as much control over the length of the winter as a ground hog in Pennsylvania who gets prodded into making an early appearance every year, his underground burrow being much preferred I'm sure. At least I can see the changes day to day. I have been working on several posts at the same time. So I will start reporting them as the wonders of a new season fast approach.




Wintertime on the Plains

A time of watching…
watching the storms roll in…
watching the temperature drop…
watching the wind blow the snow around…
watching the hawks, coyotes, and rabbits…
watching…

The cold stiffens everything …
the frozen silhouettes of cattle in the fading light…
the wooden hawks perched on power poles…
the rabbits in utter stillness.
No shelter is quite enough to warm their blood
and set them all in motion.
Only the warm rays after a cold night can free them.

A time of frosty wonder…
window art in its many crystal forms decorate every pane…
plants laced with a shroud of powdery confection.
I hear the snow speak in high-pitched scritches,
compacting underfoot, a frigid complaint.
My breath rises - as a cloud around my face it clings.

The sulking cold seems to linger,
then crawl slowly off to explore somewhere else.
The sun shines.
The snow melts.
Activity resumes.
Cold forgotten.
Hawks fly.
Rabbits run.
Cattle mill about.

Icy fingers no longer stroke cheeks
and send shivers down spines.
Winter’s changing moods keep us all hopeful that tomorrow
there will be sun on our faces and warmth in our hearts.

Wintertime on the plains –
A time of watching…
watching storms move out…
watching the temperature rise…
watching the snow melt…
watching the hawks fly…
watching the coyotes hunt…
watching the rabbits hop, nibble, and explore…
watching…