
[ Creek filled with ice and leaves ]
Sure, I realize that a forecaster can’t be correct every day, but it would be nice if he would be right more often. I just mentioned the tons of snow that fell in several eastern states and in DC as well. One interesting result of the storm in the capital made me think back on my growing up days in Erie, PA. when we had so much snow every year that our sled became our favorite toy. Now this year, for the first time since 1876, kids and grown-up kids were given permission to go sledding on Capitol Hill! Not that there weren’t those who “broke the law,” through the years, but the police didn’t arrest them, that is, until after 9/11! But now, after 140 years have passed, it is legal to slide down the hill again.

[ Birds enjoying some free seeds [
We don’t know why, but most of the pasture trails or paths through the woods, are almost moss covered now. This growth started several years ago when I first mowed the path, but since then it has just about taken over. Strange, too. Moss all over the path, but nothing in the surrounding woods. As we walked along the creek, we noticed that the abundant rains through the year had washed out a good bit of the banks, and we could see roots that used to be covered with earth. All of the creeks were partially covered with ice.
At the pond we found something both interesting and strange. Looking out from the edge, we could see many footprints. As we examined them more closely, we decided that there were human footprints along with those that might have been made by a dog. During the really cold weeks before, that ice must have been so solid, that somebody could have walked across from one side to the other, with a few diversionary steps along the way. Two breaks in the ice with rays coming out from the center, showed that somebody or someone must have fallen in! We’ve heard no story about that, but I doubt that anyone foolish enough to be out on the pond would have told us of the accident!

[ Old birdhouse]
And poor goldenrod as well! In one spot there were several heads, not golden any more as they were when I took their picture last fall, but a grayish brown waving in the breeze. Last summer we had a neat little bird house on a post, just waiting for a new occupant. For several years it had survived the weather, but finally gave up. Since it wasn’t made of strong wood, it was tearing apart on the back, so Dale says he will have to get some better wood to make more in the spring. – CHRIS