First snow cover

I woke up to a bit of snow covering things outside and it's still lightly flurry-ing... Time for the Summery things of Nature to tuck themselves in for a long Winter's nap and dream about what will be birthed in the Spring.


This past week I have watched "armadas" of waterfowl flying onto or off of the lake or just swimming by in large flocks, knowing that they've overnighted in the harvested fields and ready to begin the next leg of their flights to the south... I'm grateful for that little "window" to the lake where I can see between the houses across the street. I see the goings on of the Seasons through there, and the big white Mute Swans are often out where I can see them floating, too. Most of them stay around as long as they can find an open water place in one of the lakes or ponds nearby.


Yesterday when I was checking my e-mail something caught my attention in the upper periphery of my vision... It was out near the tops of the bare trees in the wooded area behind my place. When I looked closely I saw that it was a Red Tail Hawk and just about then it took off with a Red Squirrel in its talons... It must have listened to its inner voice saying "feed yourself before the snow comes", don't you think?


The ways of Nature are just what they are... not always pleasant to witness but always teaching us of birth, life, death, rebirth and the continuing circles and cycles here on our Earth. The Squirrel finished its job of gathering up acorns and replanting them to birth new Oak Trees in the Spring then gave away its life so that the Red Tail might live to make new Hawks in the Spring... Both thus assuring that life in the woods will continue.


And so it is here in my little place...