Monday, February 13, 2012

A GOLDEN WINK


We've finally had a few days of cold weather to go with the skift of snow which came the end of last week. Wintry? Yes. But winter? No, I don't think so, as it's supposed to get above freezing today and the prediction is for highs in the low-40s˚F the remainder of the week. Maybe a few snowflakes tomorrow. If you insist, call it half a week's worth of winter.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Much as I normally enjoy winter, I've been stood up too long this time around. A dose of seasonal weather now is simply too little too late. Save it for next winter. I've already had flowers blooming. Buds are swelling on trees and shrubs. A few birds are starting to sing. My mindset is focused on spring.

Late yesterday evening, moments before the sun sank from sight in the west, I glanced out at the river which was already dark and indistinct in the gathering twilight. Something gold winked at me from the blue riffle-shadows. Then it winked again…a quick yellow flash of reflected sunlight off the flat surface of a reddish-brown stone, like the blink of a dragon's eye from the midst of a magic pool. 

Just the upper edge of the sun's fiery disk was visible above the horizon. There was a bit of wind, and a few of the taller trees on the island across from the cottage were lightly swaying. When they moved far enough, a single ray of sunlight somehow found its way through their wangles to the river's surface at the riffle, caught the small wet area of stone's downstream face, then bounced off, creating a flash. I grabbed the camera, made three quick shots—and in those few seconds the phenomenon ended. The sun disappeared. No more flirty winks from the river. 

And only one of my three snaps caught the golden wink. Pure luck.
———————

16 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

It looks like a seam of pure gold Grizz. Lovely shot.

I find here that as soon as the sun
comes out the birds think that winter is over and begin to sing. Here it is St Valentine's day tomorrow (patron saint of lovers) and traditionally we always say that it is on this day that all the birds really begin their courting rituals.

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

Thank you, but it was truly just luck.

The birds react to the sunshine here, too—though I can now also notice a difference in the singing and volume and the way they act, regardless of weather. They feel spring coming.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - such a beautiful captured image at suns set - the river looks and feels so cold and that golden wink is the promise of Spring, many days already here. Beautiful words to describe the moment. I was with you.
Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Hey, I like that idea of the wink being a sharing of spring's promise.. A lovely thought, indeed.

And while I may be a tad early…Happy Valentine's Day!

Robin said...

Wow. Leave it to you to capture the nearly impossible moment.

And leave it to you to see it to begin with.

(And it wasn't all luck. You had to notice it, to tame it.)

Thank you!

Robin said...

Reading the comments....

I think I've mentioned we have one little sparrow in the garden center (indoors). He's been there about 2 years now, and he's all alone. Even he knows spring is coming because he's singing his heart out lately. Sometimes it breaks mine that no one sings back.

(And I have no idea why it's a 'he'....)

AfromTO said...

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
a big hug to you today!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Rowan said...

That flash of gold surely does hold the promise of Spring - not just yet perhaps but soon. I noticed yesterday that some of the birds are starting to sing, it's lovely to hear them.

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

Well, thank you for saying so, but it really was a matter of luck so far as making the pix was concerned—luck that my camera was right there to grab in an instant, lucky that one out of three tries managed to catch something. And it turned out better than I expected, which isn't to say it's a great shot. The actual wink, though, was a brilliant gold flash, much brighter and more contrasty than the image depicts. These fleeting moments always depend heavily on luck.

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

That is really sad…almost a tale of unrequited love except in the song sparrow's case, he hasn't even gotten to the rejection stage, and so is left with pure, unanswered longing and not much hope. Really a downer.

BTW, you say "he" in the case of a singing bird because, depending on the species and depending on what you consider a song, it is mostly males who sing. There are a few exceptions. Birds make all sorts of vocalizations, with only the longer and more complex ones meant to attract a mate or defend territory being classified as songs—and these sung by males. (There are a males who sing short, simple songs; and a few females—perhaps 40 species within the ranks of the birds of North America—who sing at least a bit.) Most of the sounds birds make, though, are considered vocalizations.

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

Happy Valentine's Day right back…along with that big hug!

Grizz………… said...

Rowan…

Yup, the birds are definitely getting stirred up. Funny how we believe them and their singing more easily than any other vernal sign.

Gail said...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU AND YOUR LADY-LOVE. <3

Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Thank you. I hope you have a sweet and lovely day.

As it turns out, Myladylove was pegged to temporarily manage a different bank branch today—this one nearly an hour north…and which, because it's in a small farm-country town, opens an hour earlier, 8:30 a.m. instead of 9:30. Figuring for her usual "get ready" time, it meant I had to drag Myladylove's sullen carcass out of bed at 5:30 a.m. Now there's a Valentine's Day start we'll not soon forget!

Anyway, though we traded cards and I gave her a box of dark chocolate turtles this morning, we figured she'd be beat come evening, and so went out to dinner last night. I expect that will turn out to be a good decision.

Lots of hugs…

Robin said...

The things I learn from you....

Happy Valentine's to you, as well!

Grizz………… said...

Robin...

I learn from you, too. Thank you...and thank you for your kind remarks over on Turning Pages.