Cold Again

Not the big time cold that you see on the Northern Plains or up in the Land of the Midnight Sun, but a darn sight colder than is comfortable. We have had a remarkably easy winter, with plenty of warmer than normal, sunny days, but I am still ready for it to end. 


The nice days are such a teaser, reminding us of planting and growing things and playing in the garden pond...

Lots of interesting birds and wildlife around now, including a deer that popped right over the fence out of the barnyard when Alan came over the other day.


We saw a bald eagle right over the corner of the barnyard when we were feeding the other night. Looked up and there he was, low, and right over our heads. 


A sharp shinned hawk almost hit me in the head this morning. I was watching where I was walking and didn't even see him, but Liz said that he skimmed right over me. He landed in a nearby tree and she ran for her camera, but he flew just as she got close.


Saw about fifty robins flying west earlier today, along with a bunch of small, very musical birds, whose call I have never heard before and couldn't identify. Very pretty though.


Also saw what looked like an owl flying between the barns this morning at daybreak. I hope so! Having discovered what the mystery animal is that is coming on the kitchen porch and eating the cat food...a skunk...I am hoping that it is a great horned owl and stays for dinner....

Washing Down a Mountain

Quick run to Fort Plain yesterday for parts for the milkers (inflations for you who milk cows). We took Route 5 because they just announced that it had reopened after the flood and we wanted to see what had happened that the clean up took so long. Liz drove home that way one night and called me on the phone later. She was incoherent about what she saw.

Once we got to Big Nose, so were we.

Gratuitous mild profanity erupted in its own little flood, mile after mile. (Holy S**t was the most common epithet.) Ordinary words just couldn't capture our astonishment at what had happened. The vicious flood waters carved huge channels down the flanks of that whole mountain...just scored the earth like the claws of some great beast, many feet back into the mountainside, right down to the bone and even into it..

These photos do not do justice to the vigorous new streams and water falls that splash merrily down the sides of Big Nose Mountain now. They look as if they have always been there.

I wish my Grandpa Lachmayer, who took us on many road trips down the valley on the road that curves around its steep green sides, could be alive to see. He would have enjoyed the astonishment.

Nature is powerful beyond imagination and erosion apparently does not take centuries, just a lot of water.

The boss thought he counted seven or so of these gigantic gashes in the mountainside. They went many, many feet into its sides and stretched out of sight toward the top. Can you imagine all that rock and dirt and trees and debris dumped on the roadway below? I am impressed that they got it all cleared up before freeze up.


****Just a few weeks ago this whole area was smoothly rounded and covered with forest.....