Sunset over the trail.
How come Fridays are so often the busiest days? Because of the deadline a “work week” makes? But it’s desk work, is all. The work of Nature commences apace. As the full moon set in the wee hours. And as once the cloudy dawn came, crows began digging around in the dirty roadside drifts, and a house sparrow chirped from across the road.
Birch.
Deskbound for most of it. A mild, calm, cloudy day (for most of it). But finally, as the sun began its fleet descent, as the sky grew suddenly clear, I attached Jack’s leash to his collar, and we high-tailed it for the hill.
None but us in the parking lot. A hairy woodpecker called, and Beech Hill loomed benignly. The trail-pack was loose and slippery again—Jack and I both broke through many dozen times today, and I realized about half-way up that might’ve made better time in snowshoes—but we managed. The sun dipped beyond the Rockville Ridge and painted a wide, orange, parting portrait of the sky.
Evidence of a broader thaw. Wider fields of grass revealed—but still plenty of slushy snow up there. We stuck around the hut for a while then started back down as the sun’s rays lit still higher clouds.
Somewhere along the trail I heard chickadees, and I cast about for owls. (None appeared.) Still and quiet and late-winter luscious. Still, two days of warmth do not portend the end of winter. Not in mid-February. Cold will descend again soon.
Beech Nut.
Tonight the just-past-full moon rises behind a veil of clouds. I love to watch clouds blow over between the moon and me. Some are thin and block little light, but then a dark clump passes and the brightness is obscured. Motion, transforming light, change.
Circles and cycles, rising and setting, days become months become years.
Beech Nut List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Hairy woodpecker
2. Black-capped chickadee
Elsewhere
3. American crow
4. House sparrow
Sunset.
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, hairy woodpecker, house sparrow
