Sunday, November 30, 2014

November 30: Book

Holed up all day
wrapped in clouds
reading a great book.

Friday, November 28, 2014

November 28: Day after Thanksgiving

Decorative corn--
off the door, an offering
for the squirrels.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

November 27: Thanksgiving turkeys

On Facebook we share
photos of wild turkeys
wading through fresh snow.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

November 26: White world

that holiday feeling
snow falling all day
a white blind slowly drawn

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

November 25: Sunset

Despite the rage-inducing injustices in the world, of which we are daily reminded, we can't avoid moments of beauty and joy. Maybe that's what keeps most of us sane.

Pondering Ferguson.
But when the whole sky lights up
I only feel joy.

Monday, November 24, 2014

November 24: Maces Pond

Half-frozen pond--
winterberries glow
in the strange mist.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

November 23: End of a long weekend together

sun streams in on us
the game's on tv
at the good burrito place



Saturday, November 22, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

November 21: I89 to Burlington, VT

Snow starts, then stops.
Crows mass in whitened fields,
dead deer in the median.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

November 20: To Vermont

We drive all day
over the mountains to Sue's.
There's snow here and stars.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

November 19: Riverwatch

no ducks here
late season fishermen
river calm enough to freeze

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

November 18: Unexpected

Sounds of machinery.
I wasn't expecting
pink burst of sunset.

Monday, November 17, 2014

November 17: Don't we all ponder our mortality?

Darkness at 5 pm--
thinking of ducks at roost,
cold, dark water.


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Saturday, November 15, 2014

November 15: Across the bay

From atop Beech Hill--
snowy mountains, ice blue bay,
calls of winter finches.
 

Friday, November 14, 2014

November 14: Owl kind of night

Light snowfall, falling dark.
I drive toward the Big Dipper
expecting owls.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

November 12: Fog

Audiobook playing--
car full of British history
in a thick fog.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

November 11: Wind, Leaves

A big animal wind
flushes the leaves.
We have no control.

Monday, November 10, 2014

November 10: Blue Monday

Most people aren't thrilled when Blue Jays dominate their bird feeders.

I wasn't expecting
my office visitor
to defend Blue Jays.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

November 9: Birding Portland

Today was the 11th annual Rarity Roundup in southern Maine, coordinated by my friend Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply. Groups of birders bird a particular territory on the coast between Portland and York, particularly looking for uncommon or out-of-season birds. Derek, his friend Evan and I birded Portland, from the Eastern Prom at sunrise to the West End to Back Bay at sunset. Highlights included a flock of crossbills, a pair of shovelers (ducks) in Deering Oaks Park's pond, Black-crowned Night-herons in the pond at Mercy Hospital, and a Red-eyed Vireo in a West End neighborhood. The bird of the day was the Hermit Thrush, which we found in every little pocket park of downtown Portland, on lawns, in backyards, and in patches of woods, over thirty in all.
 
Spirit of the woods--
bright-eyed thrush watching
in every tree-green corner.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

November 8: Solar energy


Sunlight ignites the last leaves
silvers the cat's fur.
The river can't wait.

Friday, November 7, 2014

November 7: Barrens

Blueberry fields so red
I'd expect them to steam
in this cold rain.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

November 6: At the hair salon

Oh, to be redone
amid white noise of dryers,
next chair's murmured gossip.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

November 5: Tamaracks along Route 17

Golden tamaracks--
my grandmother taught me
a song about them.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

November 4: Election Day

We walk to the polls.
In the river, ducks squawk.
No one's feeding them today.

Monday, November 3, 2014

November 3: After the storm

A wonderfully energetic sense of community emerges when we're all toughing it out together, having literally weathered the storm. We've still got downed trees all over and power outages are expected to last for days, but for now, at least, we're finding things to be grateful for (like a car charger so I can post this on my iPad, while also enjoying the car heater).
 
Power's out all over.
Neighbors pause their shoveling
to laugh together.
 
And from last night, when the storm was raging (to undoubtedly be duplicated tonight, sans game):
 
Blackout tableau--
candles, oil lamp, glass of wine,
game on the radio.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

November 2: First snow

Wind whipping tree boughs
snow on perfect gold leaves
even the cat's anxious

Saturday, November 1, 2014

November 1: Cozy

First snow forecast.
We watch horse races, football
with the heat turned up.