“One season following another … ” The changing of the seasons, like my river, flows steadily by. It seems only yesterday I was exchanging the lavender candles for the spiced pumpkin. Now, I crave the earthy pine candles. The roses have been mulched, tucked snug in the garden until Spring. It is November and the wheel of the year continues to turn. As the Earth changes her position, I am now greeted with the most glorious sunrises — even as my head rests on the pillow! Truly, I am blessed.

View of the rising sun from my bedroom window.

The sunsets are more muted, but no less wonderful.

Dusk on the Concord River.

In between dawn and dusk is the daily rhythm of the river and the life it supports. My ducks don’t seem to have any desire to migrate. Although I’ve been told I’m the reason they’re reluctant to head South, my research shed more light on the situation. Seems a little thing called “global warming” is changing the migration patterns of many birds. Mallards, Canadian geese, and even robins are choosing to stay put for the winter. The Northern winters are milder than years past, and food (present company’s bread supply excluded) is plentiful.

So, alas, my ducks might remain straight through December, January and into spring. That’s fine with me. There’s plenty of cracked corn and bread to go around. In the mornings, they’re always on the retaining wall, waiting for me to come with my coffee and several loaves of bread. And they keep me company while I perform my chores.

We had another visitor the other day. A coot joined the flock! Also known as a water hen, coots are not a type duck, as many people believe. They’re actually cousins of cranes. Unlike ducks, coots don’t have webbed feet. When they take off, they “run” on the water a bit, before being airborne. Way cool. I can’t take credit for this video, but it was worth adding to my blog. Hats off to bjornpdx.

The last group of “newbies” are the slate colored juncos, aka dark eyed juncos. They arrived about a week ago, fresh from the Arctic. As peepers are the heralders of spring, juncos announce the coming of winter. My mother called them snow birds, as they always seemed to bring snow in their wake.

Life on the river is never dull. Between sunrise and sunset, there’s always plenty to do and see. I found my diamond mine. Blessed be. :}

My diamond mine.