Winter's here. Spring's not far behind. #phenology

This morning's dog walk took place in a 7℉ temperature, with the wind chill even lower. If we get the more seasonal temperatures forecast for next week, it will be interesting to see how much, if at all, the current ice cover retreats. There are only 110 days until the start of meteorological Spring, 129 until astronomical Spring. With this cold weather, we're a little surprised the deer haven't yet been noshing on the decorative pumpkins. After gun season ends, we'll see about putting the pumpkins out in the field and replacing them near the steps with Christmas greens.

deer-chewed pumpkins

Photo by J. Harrington

Swans and Canada geese are still hanging around, although even much of the Sunrise River is now ice covered. We admit we haven't paddled around to check, but we suspect there's open water near the center of Carlos Avery Pool 1. Large numbers of geese were seen heading out of that area about mid-day today. Waters such as Forest Lake still have large areas of open water and the row crop fields aren't yet snow covered, so waterfowl, especially the larger ones, are likely to stay until open water or food, or both, are no more. Although we enjoy seeing both swans and geese well into November, those sightings lack the abundance of hope we enjoy as they return each Spring. We know most of  them will leave, it's just a question of when. There are supposed to be swans that Winter over on the St. Croix. We'll try again this year to see if we can get some photos. It's been awhile since we've visited the river, which should still be pretty much open water.

St. Croix River, early November

Photo by J. Harrington

Our observations happened as we left for and returned from "The Cities." We made one of our seasonal trips to Birchbark Books this morning. Among other delights they had was a copy of 1621  A New Look at Thanksgiving. We once lived about 15 or 20 miles from the Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth [Patuxet] and have visited it a few times. I don't remember much emphasis on a Wampanoag perspective in those days and am glad to see the broadened version of the story in the book. Something we don't expect but would be very thankful to see this year would for our capitalist, global economy to include much more of a seventh generation perspective when considering making investments and developing projects.

Anyhow, despite the cold, cold air and the cloudy, cloudy sky, there's been much to appreciate about today, unlike 42 years ago for some. Thanksgiving must have been very tough that year for the families of the crew of the

SS Edmund Fitzgerald     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* = ship's bell rung

Thanksgiving

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

We walk on starry fields of white
   And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
   We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
   To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
   Of pleasures sweet and tender.
Our cares are bold and push their way
   Upon our thought and feeling.
They hand about us all the day,
   Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
   We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives,
   And conquers if we let it.
There’s not a day in all the year
   But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
   To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
   Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
   While living hearts can hear us.
Full many a blessing wears the guise
   Of worry or of trouble;
Far-seeing is the soul, and wise,
   Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
   To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
   To gladden every morrow.
We ought to make the moments notes
   Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
   Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
   As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
   A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

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