Though the light has been increasing for the past few weeks, all brightness is cherished.
Mount Ararat
Wikipedia reports:
Mount Ararat is a mountain located in the Pennsylvania villages of Belmont Corners and Orson. Its summit, which is in Orson, is the highest point in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and one of the higher points in eastern Pennsylvania. Mount Ararat is located in the Glaciated Low Plateaus geological section of Pennsylvania. This section is characterized with low rolling hills and modest relief. This summit is of low relief but stands as a peak above the countryside.
The west and north sides of Mount Ararat drain into the East Branch of the Lackawanna River, thence into the Susquehanna River, and into Chesapeake Bay. The east side of Ararat drains into the West Branch of the Lackawaxen River, thence into the Delaware River, and into Delaware Bay.
Bent Birch
Extraordinary resilience contradicts preconceptions of birch being delicate.
Work in Progress
The road in front of the house leads to work ski patrolling at Elk Mountain and continues on to Chet’s Place, a great source of good food and companionship.
Absent much interest in anything else, I pass the same view near daily.
Late last Autumn, I noticed that what had been marshy seemed to be a bit wetter than usual. A couple of birch in one of my favorite stands had been fallen.
Winter white covered everything for a couple of weeks obscuring the change that had been occurring.
This recent thaw removed all ice except that on what had at once been only damp.
A slow ride with intent along the valley revealed that the tipping point had been reached.
Revealed by the contrast of dormant grass and ice a couple more beaver dens appeared southward from what had been the main community.
A gentle arc alongside the birch stand described a beautifully engineered dam. Further south, yet another dam had been built and was now holding back a considerable amount of water.
When one finally awakens from life’s routines, great change becomes evident.
South Knob Grizzled
Weather, the type common around the solstice, dresses the neighborhood in some of her winter’s finest.
Crystal Lake Skim Coat
Cold trowels Crystal Lake an ice skim coat,
diffuses the last of autumn sunsets,
of the last of decade’s autumns.
Stormed Stand
Days of recent weather conspired coating twigs, branches, trunks alike in wind directed white.
Eyes of the Storm
Weather service warned of high winds around the time the sky turned to this.
Still Life with Salt Lamp
Salt lamp silent sentinel to November’s progression.
Leaves from long loyal living room plant pale in solidarity with goldenrod brethren.
New shoots encouraging search for larger vessel.
New place in which to dwell.
Shedding still.
Growing still.
Loyal still.
Half a couple buck
This young fellow and his doe routinely frequent the yard.
She comes from the cover on the other side of the stone fence into the open of the backyard.
All the while walking slowly, she dips her head, feigns sampling the last of green grass as alert ears and wary eyes scan for danger.
If all clear, he’ll appear from somewhere behind her.