Survivors

I have always had a fondness for survivors, those beings that manage somehow to keep going under less-than-favorable conditions or for really long periods of time. Given the fascination so many people have with ancient plants like dawn redwood and gingko, I suspect that I am not alone. Followers of this blog may remember my fondness for Stumpy the semi-tailless squirrel (alas, missing for more than a year now and presumed dead)--and of course, for all the weedy plants about which I have waxed rhapsodic at various times.

Yesterday's snowfall brought another new survivor to the yard. Watching all the action at the backyard feeders (here's a sample),

 I noticed an unusual bird, a female cardinal missing the crest characteristic of the species.

a female with her crest, visiting at the same time

Our crestless lady seemed perfectly healthy and frisky and was indeed one of our larger birds, so whatever predator or parasite caused the loss of her plumage evidently caused no serious damage. (I would like to know her story, though: did she barely escape one of the neighborhood hawks? Did Scooter the Maine Coon get too close? The bird wasn't telling.)

The snow also transformed the yard, giving new interest to the grass garden I loved so much in the late summer. Not all grasses, even of the same species, respond to snow in the same way. The little bluestem at center right refused to lean over, while a clump closer to the street separated into a vase shape that bowed to the ground, as did most of the shorter grasses. The white also gave some variation to what had become a (to my eyes) monotonous brown landscape (this winter thus far being short on sun).

 As wonderful as the lushness of summer is (and the older I get, the more issues I have with winter, which does not agree with my bones or my breathing), it is good to be reminded that every season brings something to learn and has its own beauty, if we can take the time to look.

A frequently unnoticed winter delight

the sound of oak leaves in the wind. Most of the time, I am too busy to distinguish the sounds of particular plant parts. (Aren't we all?). But today, on a postprandial stroll through a favorite neighborhood (one of the few in our town with lawn strips), that distinctive winter sound greeted my ears. In these parts, oaks are the last deciduous trees to lose their leaves, so the dried vegetation forms part of the seasonal soundtrack.

Sunshine and tree music--not bad for a January afternoon.

A good start to the semester

Ah, the beginning of term. All those new students to meet (and this semester, all but five of my students are first-timers for me), new class activities, and this time around, even two new preparations: a composition support lab and a children's literature course for (mostly) pre-service teachers. I even have two brand-new books (and I'm book nerd enough to still love being the first person to open a book and smell that new-book smell, so distinct from that of an old book).

Of course, some semesters get off to a bad start: students who don't show up; students who don't have their books; in the case of support classes, sometimes students who are actively hostile. This week brought none of that, although one international student mixed up her days and came to the wrong session, two people got lost and were late, and one lab student did grumble a bit. Other than those minor glitches, though, the opening days of all classes ran smoothly. A good start to the week and the term.

Then, during yesterday's drive home, a pileated woodpecker winged its way across Route 47 and landed on a roadside utility pole, affording me a good look at its magnificent wing bars and red crest. An unexpected view of my favorite woodpecker is a highlight of any day.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Let's hope the rest of the term is as good as its first two days.

What a difference a few days make

The bird feeder area on January 1, hosting a flock of chilly but perfectly visible mourning doves

The same area, a few feet over, this morning

How many days till spring?