We just had a January thaw but now it’s over. The snow pack is down to almost bare ground in all places. Still there are piles of snow by the roads that were made by plowing and shoveling. For the most part the snow pack is down to zero. The temperatures have dropped starting yesterday morning. This morning it cold; 12 degrees F. One of my easiest ways to tell how cold it is outside, besides looking at the big round thermometer on the old tree stump next to the house, is to take a glance at the rhododendron bush by the road. When the air is below freezing the leaves curl. The colder it is the tighter the curl.
Today it is cold. Good thing I didn’t wash Rocinante yesterday. The water from the spray machines at the car wash saturate door seals and locks and any crevice which makes it inconvenient after the freezing air surrounds the car. All things normally free to access become filled with ice and that’s that. Good luck getting into your car or even unlocking the doors. So much to think about in the cold climes.
Speaking of which I saw a Goldeneye duck this morning in the cove between Hodgdon Island and Sawyers Island. I live on Hodgdon. I watched it for a minute of so and then it tumbled over frontwards and dove for food. I don’t know what it was going for but this is how they feed. The Goldeneyes dive for edibles in water twenty feet or less. The first time I saw a diving duck do its thing I was confused how it could survive being in freezing air and happily dunk itself for long periods over and over. Eventually I figured out that the water is forty degrees F. so compared to the air temp it must be like diving into a hot tub for the duck.
Things are going very well here at The Castle. I hope your day is similar or better. Be well, be kind, and play fair.
G. M. Goodwin
14 January 2018
Playing Fair and Being Kind 