Tuesday, December 31, 2013

December 31: Last day of the year

In broad daylight, fox
crosses the snowy yard.
Spirit of old year or new?

New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji
Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1797–1858 Tokyo (Edo)).

Monday, December 30, 2013

December 30: Woolly Bear

Caterpillar found
on the snowy porch
curls up in my palm.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

December 28: Ducks on the Passy

Counting birds on some of Coastal Mountains Land Trust's Passy Greenway preserves in Belfast for part of the day, for the N. Penobscot Bay Christmas Bird Count, was more of a challenge than I'd anticipated. The effects of the recent ice storm are still quite visible, thanks to persistent cold temperatures. Everywhere, trees remain coated and bent to the ground with their burden of ice. It was as if entire forests were bowing down in severe obeisance to Skadi, the Norse goddess of winter.

It took me hours to clamber around one trail on snowshoes on the partially crusted snow. The second trail I'd planned to hike was impassable--too many frozen trees in the way. The third trail was too steep and icy for me to get far. So in the end, I gave up: I shucked my snowshoes, drove to Belfast harbor, and walked out on the Footbridge to watch ducks bobbing in the falling tide.

In the chilled harbor
ducks posture for mates.
When you feel it, you feel it.

Entrance to the Stover Preserve.
See why I didn't get far?

The icy forest of the Stephenson Preserve

Friday, December 27, 2013

December 27: Evening sounds

I can hear the cat
greedily eating
from two rooms away.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

December 26: Boxing Day

Fir needles underfoot.
Cat chases
an origami crane.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

December 25: Christmas

Jupiter shining
in the east,
a beckoning star.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

December 24: The day after

Every twig, every branch,
every tree, encased,
as if lovingly, with ice.

Monday, December 23, 2013

December 23: Ice Storm

So precarious,
our footing
in this glittering world.

December 22: Gifts

Against the backdrop of a glittering but dangerous ice storm, we celebrated an early Christmas with my family last night, feasting on our traditional lobster stew, exchanging gifts, and cheering on the Patriots (who clinched the AFC East title).

Bounty of food, family love.
And even the Patriots
gave us a gift.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

December 21: Winter Solstice

Participated today in the Thomaston-Rockland Christmas Bird Count. For the first time we found a Snowy Owl in our count area, on the Samoset golf course. The heavily barred bird looked like a rock until it moved. And then we found another, paler one, perched atop a church. Crows harassed it until it flew off over Rockland Harbor, a flurry of white wings and black in the bleak sky. The owl's yellow eyes shone pure and cold; the length and scimitar curve of its talons made me shiver. Such beauty, such deadly beauty. Like winter itself. 

We welcome winter
in the form of
two Snowy Owls.
One of today's owls, courtesy of Brian Willson (c), maineseasons.com

Friday, December 20, 2013

December 20: Friday evening

By week's end
my mind as blank
as the sky.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

December 19: We finally go see "The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug"

For a few hours
we forget about snow and cold,
immersed in dragon fire.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

December 18: ...and more snow

Hieroglyphics
of bird tracks etched
in this morning's powder.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

December 17: Box of oranges arrives at the office

Gift of oranges.
We peel them while talking
of tonight's snowstorm.

Monday, December 16, 2013

December 16: Driving home, tired

Drive home alone.
The moon withdraws,
shrinks as it rises.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

December 15: Moment of clarity

After all the shoveling,
the night sky's
brilliantly clear.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

December 14: Hot buttered rum

Snow starts to fall.
I warm my hands
on the hot mug.

Friday, December 13, 2013

December 13: Winter Storm Watch

One day before the storm
night sky clear enough
to see falling stars.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

December 12: Frozen

Even cat tracks frozen
in the driveway
look vulnerable.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

December 11: Squirrely

Hanging from the eaves,
squirrel drops an apple
past my window.

December 10: Comfort food

Buttered toast
just like my grandmother
used to make for me.

Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9: Getting there

Boxes of ornaments
stacked in the hall.
Tree leans on the porch.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

December 8: Holiday spirit

In the car
I sing to myself, loudly,
"My Favorite Things."

Saturday, December 7, 2013

December 7: Chill a moment

Rushing to get out of the cold,
I'm stopped by calls
of geese overhead.

Friday, December 6, 2013

December 6: Christmas by the Sea

Beyond the lights
and crowded sidewalks
sighs the dark harbor.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

December 5: Wicked dark

Even in this dark
I can tell
those are white pines.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

December 4: Christmas lights make the long night easier to bear

Through the darkness,
haze of red and green lights--
neighbor's tree.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

December 3: Abundance

Open your eyes to
what's out there. A friend saw
ten Snowy Owls today.

Monday, December 2, 2013

December 2: Advent

Little window, opened,
reveals a snowman.
Outside, rain streams down.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

December 1: Owl on the rocks

Snowy Owl seen today at Rye Harbor, NH



















Cold white stone
at ocean's edge--
owl visitor.