Monday, March 23, 2015

WEATHER & WOODIES

It's cloudy this morning, and cold—34˚F at the moment, with a predicted high of only 40˚, plus an 80% chance of snow this afternoon and tonight! Rather discouraging news for those who are desperately longing for spring to materialize sunshiny and green, overflowing with birdsong. 

I want that myself. I'm looking forward to those days. But I've also been around the block too many times to venture out onto that overly hopeful limb. This is, after all, Ohio…and March. Sure, the calendar says it's spring, though that's merely a technical detail—not something you embrace with your heart. 

History matters. Not to mention latitude. March weather here in the Buckeye State is volatile, changeable, slow to make up it's mind, prone to backtracking—overall, a decidedly iffy affair. To expect too much too soon is foolish, a recipe for certain disappointment.

So I remind myself to be patient and keep an eye out for encouraging signs. Like the quartet of wood ducks who dropped by recently to paddle around in the eddy across from the cottage. Some folks think woodies are the most beautiful bird in North America. They're unquestionably one of the most vividly colored—the males, anyway. Alas, you can't tell from my image, which is heavily cropped and was taken in poor light. 

Still, they are one of the true seasonal signs I can count on each and every spring. Their arrival doesn't necessarily signal spring weather is immediately at hand—you know, the sort we all imagine when when we conjure up our mental image of the season—but they do mean that it's in the works…coming in its own good time.          

I'll settle for that.

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10 comments:

Carolyn H said...

Ah, wood ducks! Aren't they the loveliest things?

Penny said...

They certainly look lovely.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn H…

They really are—and my photo doesn't come even close to doing them justice. It's just a little too far for my longest lens to reach without have to crop and enlarge the image. Plus the light never seems to be helping—flat, dark, not popping the fantastic colors on the drakes. Whine, whine, whine…

But they always appear here, in "my" section of the river, about the same time every year, and hang around—off and on—for a couple of weeks. And 99% of the time they paddle happily in the eddy across from the cottage. Then they disappear, showing up every once in a while, though not really staying. Probably a little too busy for them to feel secure and comfortable.

Grizz………… said...

Penny…

They are indeed gorgeous! I just wish I could come up with a better image.

Gail said...

Hi Grizz - everything pictured/captured on the river is somehow much more real - true - natural - and your skill to share such simple miracles of nature's beauty continue to bring me and others great joy and hope. I can only imagine your real touch - gentle and knowing - comforting and spirited. Just like your images shared here. Glorious.
Love Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Well I don't know what to say to that except THANK YOU!

Now, if I can just get you to feeling a little more positive toward possums… ;-)

Gail said...

Hi GrIZZ - I will work on the possum thoughts and as far as the rest? It's simply true - :-)
Love Gail
peace....

Moonmuser said...

Were the adorable ducks just passing through then? Do you get more than one group maybe for a few weeks? .. where are the headed? Or didn't you ask? LOL
I have always thought those guys are quite handsome with their classy colors!
Thanks.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I appreciate it and you…on both counts.

Grizz………… said...

Moonmuser…

Itinerant wood ducks? Nahh, probably not. Just a little too wild for this stretch of the river. We're more the geese/mallards waters. Different strokes for different folks. They'll drop by occasionally, the woodies. But not to stay. They are quite the dapper ducks, though—truly spectacular.