Well, I don’t have to tell anyone around here what a great (read easy) winter we’ve had so far. I’m passing on some of our January pictures for life on the River.
By far, our highlight was a new friendly hawk who perched himself right outside my window and let me catch him resting after a fishing expedition
For the last day of the year the River continued to enjoy her warmth. Quiet except for the birds singing and the geese squawking. A final barge made her way up River in the morning and by the end of the day, Fred capped a perfect end to the year by showing his hibernating pose atop the harbor pier.
Thank you for tuning in on TOTAR these past two years, My goal when I began was to share the beauty and joy that the River brings to me and I am really proud of this blog and hope that you have gained some of the pleasure that the River has to offer every day.
I received my Blog stats from Word Press this afternoon
It has been a joy to watch the River and to share a bit of her blessing with you. I expect that I will post irregularly to TOTAR based on the River’s bringing me her unique and inspiring activities.
Richard
As the year draws to an end and this blog moves to a more irregular status (Some Days on the Allegheny River), its amazing just how calm and easy-going the River is today. She continues to be high, at least in our neighborhood, and the action has slowed to a goose pace. The geese were just lazing around this morning and gathered around this pair before heading off to feeding grounds nearby. The Consol Barge moved slowly up River with her load of coal for the New Ken power plant. And while I did not see any people on the River, one of our readers saw a bunch of kayaks on shore looking like folks were enjoying the warm December days. Enjoy yours!
So even though the River is only at 14 feet at Sharpsburg (flood stage is 21 feet), the River seems really high with the water seemingly flow much quicker than normal.
The gulls have returned and the geese have reclaimed their place in the cold water. Its been a snow free month and since I count a sunny day as any day that the sun makes an appearance, its been pretty good overall. Of course some people want snow for Christmas and their wish may be fulfilled tonight.
Excluding the early snow, the action on the River is all on my deck. The doves, finches, sparrows and even a bright red male cardinal have returned to the feeder. With it the River is a backdrop for the ongoing meals that are helping sustain our feathered friends.
The shortest day of the year is approaching and by the end of the week, we’d have turned the corner on daylight and will be moving towards the vernal equinox. Spring isn’t too far away!
How’s that for optimism!
Its been a great fall so far and with the winter solstice coming up on December 22 (this year) the return to longer days is just around the corner.
But the best way to live winter is to embrace it and the River invites that with its crystal like water, visible wildlife and (still) misty water.
With the air temps in the 20s this morning, there was clearly some more heat lost from the River as the mist held low against the water. And our GBH friend returned and hung out on one of the pier posts. But it was the sun that made its mark for me. Low in the morning sky it illuminated the River and cast a sun shadow that was like a path from our house to the sun itself
Now that the weather has turned colder, the leaves are off the trees and the food supply begins to get is shorter supply, out feathery friends are beginning to show up thanks to our feeders that went up this week and that great Costco Bird Feed bag that is mostly sunflower seeds.
The kayak rack is set up as a winter hold and the River continues to stay high until the water begins to subside.
Today would have been my father’s 95th birthday. He would have appreciated any pictures of bird. HBD Dad!
We’re actually having more of an “Indian Autumn” (like that is a term you’ve ever heard) with temps in the 60s and the River as high as it is in April. Perhaps I’m just imagining that we’re still waiting for Winter but instead it is actually mid April and the Winter is already past…I’ll take it!
The fog was all around us this morning creating a beautiful landscape from the water to the hills. Our morning walk with Clancy was a great way to start off the new week as the views of the gray hills and waterside painted a colorful picture
Stayed home this weekend and enjoyed long walks along the bloated River as we watched the last few leaves of Fall drop to the ground. The River is high and fast due to flooding in other parts of town and we usually don’t see it this high this late. With the leaves all gone, the River is open for viewing and whether it is the ducks floating by or a barge steaming along, everything is fully visible.
This is the tradeoff for the Winter months. We lost the warmth but pick up the view.
Hope your holiday was filled with love and thanks
I’ve stopped offering advice as my new spiritual discipline so yesterday when I mentioned to someone new about how much I love being on the River and that I’ve been keeping a regular blog about life on the River, he told me that it must get pretty boring in the winter since all our days are gray and nothing except rain, cold and snow predominate.
Okay, I thought, nothing like an unsolicited piece of advice…I referred him to my blog address and asked him to keep track of gray vs sun and that on the days when we have 2 suns on the River, we get to count the sunny days twice!
Anyway the River has been busy with blustery winds whipping the whitecaps into a near frenzy and the rain is making patterns on the water. All the boats and piers are out of the Yacht Club except for those who are taking on the winter. You know that their electric circuits are plugged in for sure.
Got my cranberries and am going to try out Susan Stamberg’s (NPR radio)grandmother’s recipe this year. Will let you know how it turns out
