“Do you see that out there? The strange, unfamiliar light? It’s called the sun. Let’s go get us a little.”
The alarm went off at 7:15. It was an unfamiliar sound, even an intrusion. I jumped out of bed to turn it off and also took the battery out of the clock, a noisy clock with a loud ticking. I then had to shake away the grogginess of the early morning and figure out why I’d set the alarm. I remembered I had a 9:00 library board meeting and had added extra time for papers and coffee, the morning rituals I seldom forego.
Gracie and I got to the library early so we listened to the radio then I noticed the bird, a bright red cardinal, sitting on the branch of a still slumbering tree surrounded by snow. The red was vibrant, and the bird was kind enough to stay for a while. I watched the whole time.
Only one other person came for the meeting, the meeting that wasn’t. I dropped my library books into the return slot then came home and rang the librarian who told me the president of the board had broken her arm and was now in rehab. I expect calling about the meeting was low on the list of priorities for our madam president.
Did I mention the sun? It waited until later in the morning to make its appearance but here it is for the second day in a row. Last night it was cold enough to frost the car windows and re-freeze all the melted ice and snow, but today the sun will be warm again and the temperature will rise throughout the morning. It will be in the 40’s, almost tropical. For the rest of the week that weather cycle will continue: a sunny, warm day followed by a freezing night followed by another sunny, warm day. The sun is accompanied by the constant sounds of dripping, melting snow. I’m beginning to think of that sound as music.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: 7:15, Alarm clock, bright red cardinal, intrusion, library board, papers and coffee, slumbering trees
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March 10, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Hi Kat,
A broken arm would probably take my mind off some things but I’d make sure that my meetings would be cancelled by someone. Unless I was drugged out of my skull, of course. All bets are off then. 🙂 But you got to enjoy the cardinal and the early morning light so all was not in vain.
The day is lovely and drippy with melting. Sun is out. It’s a bit hazy but it’s there. Rocky, Piki Dog and I have been for a long walk around the neighborhood, the first in a long while. I saw some more dead grass and heard a cardinal singing. The yellow shafted flicker is also out there drumming and singing. Things are moving along in the right direction. I expect croci and daffodils to be popping up any day now. 😀 😀 😀
Enjoy the warm day.
March 10, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Hi Caryn,
We’re talking old board members. I am a spring chicken. Two are ninety and the president is 81.
It is drippy here now as well. I keep checking the progress of the deck drip as I still can’t get on it.
Before the 13 inch snow storm I had three green shoots in my front garden. I did the happy dance but the snow put an end to dancing. I just my shoots are okay.
Have a lovely afternoon!
March 10, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Before the first snow storm I had quite a few green shoots in the front garden. They are under 4 feet of snow right now.
March 10, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Caryn,
Let’s hope all of our shoots have survived!
March 10, 2015 at 3:00 pm
You’ll have much the same weather as we will but it will be a bit warmer here though. I can’t enjoy it since I work anyway but it is nice to know it is out there 🙂
Our most red bird, the Bullfinch, only comes out of the forest when it’s real tough and they have very little else to eat than from the bird feeders so I haven’t seen them much this winter, a flock of them followed us on our walk one day though but that’s it I think.
Yes a broken arm should probably make even me a bit distracted and forget to call but if someone else knew why didn’t that person call? But then again, You would have missed that Cardinal.
Strong winds here again, I can hear it roar outside, I’ll sleep well tonight as I always do when a storm hits.
Have a great day!
Christer.
March 10, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Hi Christer,
It will be in the high 40’s tomorrow and Boston will get to 53˚, the warmest day since last December.
I see Mr. and Mrs. cardinal come often in the summer to dine at my feeders. This has been a tough winter for the birds with all the snow.
She lives alone. I know someone is taking care of her cat, but I don’t now about any other stuff. She is not one to ask for help.
Not a breeze here!
Have a great evening!
March 10, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Hopefully the clouds will break tomorrow and the sun will shine. These last days of rain have been wonderful for the area lakes but it does nothing for my disposition. There’s something to be said for light therapy. If I lived in Portland or Seattle I would invest in a light stand of flourescent tubes to raise my spirits on rainy cloudy days. One of my coworkers is from Portland and claims that folks in the Northwest don’t sun tan but they rust.
March 10, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Bob,
That’s funny about rusting. I do see his point!
I remember Northern Exposure, a TV show which took place in Alaska. One winter, Joel, the doctor, fitted everyone with lamps they wore towards their faces to fight seasonal deficient disorder. They all got addicted to the lights. It was like some science fictional n movie.
March 10, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Kat,
The yellow sun—-the melt drip drip drip—–mr red cardinal—-the warmth of 40 degrees—-the half done library meeting–spring training for boston. Winter is over in you neck of the woods. Soon you’ll be dealing with that spawn of yours. Congratulations! You made it thru a hell of a winter!
T
March 10, 2015 at 11:12 pm
T,
Before this week I probably would have pooh pooh the idea that spring is arriving. Now I am hopeful. It is raining now and more of the diminishing snow will disappear. Tomorrow may hit 50. This morning many birds sang in the chorus. It is time to check out the seed catalogs.
Thank you. I accept the congratulations as they are well earned.
March 11, 2015 at 8:43 am
Kat,
We seem to be having an early summer. At least for this week. It is 5am and 51F, scheduled to hit 65 today and remain about the Big Six O until Sunday when it is to be a return to winter, with snow.
Saw a rather scrawny (or maybe just thin from its flight in) Robin yesterday afternoon, as I was sweating with the construction of a box veggie garden. He/she was at the bird bath, which was dry. Being the humanitarian that I am, coupled with the fact that robins are really not all that tasty, I immediately found time to grab a bucket and douse the bath with a good inch or two. He/she immediately came back for a quick dip and a drink.
Hey, its fun to be warm!
Carl
March 11, 2015 at 10:59 am
Carl,
Good for you! I’m just being patient for spring-summer is a long way off. WE will hit 49˚ today-I’m hoping for one more degree.
WE have winter robins who never migrate. A friend saw one a while back and announced spring. I was sorry to cut down her hope.