Why So Long?

What can I say?
Only that it has been a long stretch between posts.
The good thing about such a long spell is that the natural world is always there. It waits patiently until you are ready to re-engage.
I think I'm there.
Been pondering quite a bit over the fast-paced way of life that seems to pervade our existence even here in the placid, stolid, and supposedly boring Midwest.
Not so fast.
The disease of maxing out every waking moment is alive and well in this area, and in my life. No doubt it also has taken up residence to some degree in your life.
I, for one, am sick of it.
Time to scoot out the door and make my escape...even if it's only to my backyard, or to the local nature trail, or the manmade lake in town. Our local reservoir west of town isn't a bad place either. Bald eagles seem to take to it quite well. A nesting pair are back at it this season after losing their babies in a windstorm last year. Those eagles know how to persevere under trial.
The weather provides a daily opportunity to connect with the natural world. It's probably the most common sort of encounter for everyone. And most of the time, a disagreeable one...unless the sun is shining, the air temp registers around 70 degrees, and no thunderstorms, snowstorms, rainstorms, or other atmospheric disturbances threaten to disturb these preferred conditions.
Some time back I made a promise to myself to find something good in any and all weather. Rain, snow, ice, heat...all would be something to wonder and marvel at rather than find fault with so easily.
It's hard to believe that just a week ago or so we were buried under 10 inches of glittering snow. Now it's all gone, and in its place a lot of soggy ground and standing water where the soil beneath is either saturated or impermeable. Since clay has been a local resource able to be mined and converted into highly collectible Uhl pottery pieces here in Huntingburg, it's no wonder about the lack of drainage. I have yet to live in a place that doesn't have a superabundance of clay in the ground. The soil back in Costa Mesa, California likewise seemed to have a heavy clay component as well. That sandy loam of fertile fields and gardens so far has eluded this erstwhile gardener.
A note on our local birds...about a month ago when we were in the throes of Frozen February, a large flock of robins congregated in our yard for about a week. At least a hundred birds could be seen darting around and through our large holly tree, scarfing down red berries and finding welcome shelter within its branches. In past years I have noticed this flocking phenomenon just prior to the robins beginning to pair off and start in on their nest building and brood raising. Always fascinating to watch and enjoy.
The other day I heard the call of a pileated woodpecker. I wonder if it is the same bird I have been privileged to glimpse once or twice here in our neighborhood. It is a thrilling sight to see this striking and handsome woodpecker. Once you have seen one, you will never forget it.
The blue jays are being quite vocal these days just before spring hits. Always loud and dominant, these very adaptable birds have expanded their range in North America where many bird species are going in the opposite direction. I believe it has something to do with their ability to successfully exploit any number of environments, and find ways to thrive in the midst of human civilization.
Flocks of starlings and grackles are also quite plentiful. Many people disparage these particular birds. I wonder if they would do that if they would learn something about them. The starlings came over from Europe over a hundred years ago; since that time they have begun to deviate away from their European ancestors, changing the way they nest and so on. It's a fascinating work in progress to see how geographic isolation of species leads to variations and subsequent fixing in these populations of certain characteristics. Nature is always dynamic and in a state of change; even mountains erode and eventually disappear over millions of years.
Another sign of spring is the sudden eruption of frog voices coming from a pond not far from our house. Their loud croaking will echo throughout the night hours from now to the fall. The funny thing is that when I have gone looking for these frogs, I can never see them. I only can hear them. Sneaky little things. That's how they stay alive!
More musings yet to come...hopefully a lot more often!