Saturday, March 2, 2002

One beautiful week and another turning back...

For what it is worth, I have had a wonderful week, a succession of fulfilling days and an entrancing nights with the coming of the hazy full moon.

And with the return of winter weather I have been enjoying the sunny clear blue sky days. Although being so dry we could really use some gray overcast days that bring the rains. I told Lin yesterday that this summer is going to be difficult for the plants. First, they popped out way too early due to the warm weather recently. Our daffodils are at nearly full height and ready to push open their blooms. Someone forgot to tell them that it is only the beginning of March. Secondly, the drought will make it difficult for them to survive. If I have any subjects at all for photography this summer, they may prove to be challenging specimens.

But there is other subject matter to pursue. The other day I needed to make a run to the transfer station with some trash and recyclables from our cottage, and through the trees down the bank from the road's edge in Stemmers Run was a magnificent great blue heron. There in full sunlight she was apparently fishing among the tufts of dried grass in the rippling water that receded away towards the barren trees by the streams edge...some of which looked like they were on the verge of pushing buds. At a distance it seemed like a tinge of red is about to overlay the stark brown bark of the trees, probably red bud which often brings the first clue of the coming spring...however, much too early for this time of year.

As I came out the road from the transfer station, I saw that the blue heron remained. So I turned around in an attempt to capture her image, but my stalking wasn't quiet enough nor my lens long enough. With powerful swooshes, her great wings carried her away from me and my lens. Nevertheless it was a great sight to behold and she did favor me with graceful swoops before settling in the distance beyond the little islands of dried grasses. After her departure when I dropped my eyes to the stream's edge I found bubbles of water trapped in the ice overlaying the leaves below...nothing quite matches the patterns created by Mother Nature. I will need to return there again soon, like maybe today.

jim