Monday, December 7, 2009

A DUSTING OF SNOW…

According to local weather reports, it's snowing at this very moment practically everywhere but here along the river. I've not yet witnessed a single falling flake with my own eyes…and I've been looking. There is, however, a bit of snow on the ground, the lightest of dustings, just enough to add some white to the raked piles of sycamore leaves I hadn't gotten around to hauling to the mulch pile before I got sick. Still, I've seen plenty of frosts do a better job covering the ground with white.
As I write, the temperature stands at 27˚F, which is only marginally warmer than it was when I went out in the feeble dawn light to feed the loudmouthed ducks their scoops of cracked corn. Actually, it's the white ducks who cut such a rusty; the mallards are more polite, less demanding—though just are ready for breakfast.
The river looks wintery today, falling snow or not—greenish-blue, lots of grays, a pewter sky and all the leaning sycamores whiter than any icicle. There are baubles of ice in the shallows—bits and pieces formed on leaves and weed stems. Some mid-riffle sticks and bits of debris wear an icy overcoat. There are a few of what I call "ice bells" along the bank.
The birds are busy working the feeders, perhaps twenty species all told. A nice variety, though nothing unusual. I can count seven male cardinals sitting in the same small tree, as brilliant as a handful of rubies flung against the chilled pale backdrop of winter. Lovely.
The weather folks say there's a 40 percent chance of snow all day. I'd like to see a bit—the actuality rather than just the aftermath. My plans are to build a fire, finish decorating the Christmas tree, and catch up with some indoor chores. I'm still not completely over whatever I had, still fighting a persistent cough. Falling snow would finish the overall mood of a quite, snug, riverbank Monday rather nicely, don't you think?

20 comments:

Jenn Jilks said...

For your 'dusting' we've had a dumping!
It was a bit of a shock...

Grizz………… said...

Jenn…

I expect that would be a shock anywhere if you weren't expecting it!

Pretty, though.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Oh how lovely to read of you and your river again. Not that I don';t enjoy your advent entries, I love them; but it is nice to hear of a dusting of snow on that river and to hear of your ducks waiting for their corn. Sorry about that cough - keep warm. Wish I could send you a glass of my blackberry whisky - decanted yesterday, sampled and deemed delicious.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-
your pictures are SO beautiful and your words tell a detailed story of winter's attempt. I love the beauty of your river - it's ever changing gifts of nature and the glorious style and tradition and surprise it delivers. Ah, but all this could go unnoticed, it is only because you are "one" with your river and share the earth with all of the life force that surrounds you that you bring to life and purpose the unfolding of God's bounty from season to season on the river. I love every moment and every picture and every feeling and every natural miracle that you see,photograph and write about. Thanks Grizz, thanks....

Love to you
Gail
peace.......

Carolyn H said...

I ended up with 4 inches here on Roundtop, though it's down to about 2 inches already.

Carolyn H.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Your river is doning its winter decor....rubies in the trees, ice bell/baubles in the river, a new carpet of white beginning - and glimmer of frost everywhere. It's wonderful to be alive when one is present to all the gifts offered up on a daily basis. How do folks in the southern hemisphere have Christmas without all these cold weather miracles?

Bernie said...

We have tons of snow Grizz and its very, very cold.....with the wind-chill a minus 38....and I have to go to the post office when I would rather stay in by the fire. I do hope you get your snow for sure, Wanda had some this morning. Hope you are feeling better....:-) Hugs

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

I understand completely—and I don't want to neglect my river posts, ducks included.

BTW, I'd take you up on that blackberry whisky in a minute if I could. It sounds delicious.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

This river does change all the time—in mood, appearance, and effect on me . I try to pay attention and report as I can. It isn't interesting stuff, really, just a quite day's living along a Midwestern stream. Small, commonplace miracles…

I'm glad you like reading. I certainly like sharing.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn…

Not even those white-dusted sycamore leaves are to be seen now, though it's getting darker by the moment. It already looks like 5:00 p.m. hereabouts.

Your snow looked pretty.

Grizz………… said...

Bonnie…

It's cold here right now, really unusually dark, and looking very wintry except there's no snow…and you know what, I love it! I have a fire on the heart, Christmas carols playing in the background. The feeders are doing a fast business. Moon the dog is curled on the bed (she thinks I don't know) and I'm putting boxes of sparkly ornaments on the tree.

Know what? I love every minute of it. This is a perfectly wonderful day.

"How do folks in the southern hemisphere have Christmas without all these cold weather miracles?" Beats me! God willing, I'll never have to find out.

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

No snow, unfortunately. But a pretty nice day if you like dark wintry skies and the solitude of a lovely river. Cold outside but cozy in here by the fireside.

I'm still coughing. I think I just need rest and time. I need to run an errand or two out myself…but I'm going to put it all off until tomorrow and hole up.

Stay safe and warm!

Kelly said...

...falling snow would do just the trick...it paints a lovely scene. My son told me he heard possible snow Wed and Thursday. Maybe we'll get lucky. We had a dusting down here in Mason this morning at 6:15. It was so nice frying eggs while the snow fell outside the window. We loved it!

Grizz………… said...

Kelly…

I was up before 6:00, but saw nary a flake, though the dusting was already on the ground.

Frying eggs and falling snow…I'm thinking there's a country song in there. (Or a good post title.)

[BTW…did you see my question to you re. this morning's Advent pix?]

KGMom said...

As I was reading along, I was thinking--I wonder if Scribe is recovered. Well, you answered that thought. Glad you are mending, although if your cold is like one I had at the beginning of the fall semester, it is a long slow recovery. Took me a full month.
Ice bells? Lovely. I gather the water splashes up, hits the twig and then the cold congeals it into the crystal bell shape? Just lovely.

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

Hey, I wrote about "ice bells" last year. I don't know how to put a link in a comment (I'd love to learn) but you can find the post here:

[http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2009/01/ice-bells-ring-in-new-year.html]

There are better photos on that post. I think you're right on how they're formed.

FYI, as sick as I was, no cold symptoms, runny nose, etc., though the runny eyes might qualify. And I didn't begin cough much until a couple of days ago.

Kathie Brown said...

Yes, falling snow, a crackling fire and a mug of hot cider or tea or hot chocolate! I'm getting that cozy feeling just reading this. Now where did I put my book...

Grizz………… said...

Kathiesbirds…

That's the spirit! Take the time to enjoy the coziness and magic of the seasons. It's no fun if all you do is bustle about with no peace and reflection.

Sydney said...

I imagine by now you are feeling much better. I love your writing, to sound like a broken record. I always seem to say that in my comments...The descriptions of ice were so beautiful. I just relax when I read here, completely. I am enjoying the advent posts but agree with Weaver too... it's wonderful to read of your outlook and what in nature triggers it again.

Grizz………… said...

Sydney…

I'm always pleased to learn someone likes to read what I write. Please don't apologize. There are days when I need a bit of encouragement from a reader whose opinion I value. Let me thank you, instead.

And don't worry about reports from the riverbank…they'll be coming.

Thank you…again. (BTW, love Big Al.)