Having abandoned you yesterday in the middle of a foggy morning, here’s something a bit brighter for the penultimate day of 2023.
In truth, I had forgotten about the brief visit we made recently to this pocket park in Schuylerville.
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It was the day of the endless contrails.
Since we were in Schuylerville, we decided to check out the Champlain canal to see if the geese were around.
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Getting out of the car, we could hear straight away, their steady amiable chatter interrupted by squawks to mark a new arrival or departure.
What do geese talk about, do you suppose, as they sit around in the freezing cold?
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“Shit! Why didn’t we fly south?”
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This was that brief, icy cold snap.
Grant thought some of the geese might actually be frozen in, which can happen.
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“Nice of you to be concerned, but we’re fine, thank you.”
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As if to demonstrate…
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This is my favourite sort of winter’s day, cold but sunny and still.
We left the geese to enjoy it.
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Buoys rescued from the ice.
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Sunlit oak leaves.
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It was a very bonnie day.
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But grey days have some redeeming features.
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“Mowing”?
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Now there was a splash of colour!
The only thing being, nothing was actually happening there. With a clear view of the road ahead, we could have found our way quite safely.
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Here, on the other hand, we were on a blind rise and the dude operating whatever that thing is called was oblivious of us, thrashing about at the shrubbery with abandon.
Why weren’t the dudes with the signs up here?
As we edged cautiously forward, I wound my window up against flying debris.
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Did you notice what I said?
I wound my window up.
We had been driving along with it open.
At the end of December.
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Extraordinary record-setting days occur, all the time, but this is not the odd day, it’s turning into weeks.
Given the savings on our heating bill, I should be pleased but I find it unsettling.
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Orange the new colour of winter?
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Grant may be mowing, not shovelling?
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Would I kid you?
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Approaching home
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The geese were happy, anyway, pecking around in the fields for bits of corn, a bonus for them at this time of year.
“See, I told you we’d do well to stay!”
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It’s definitely a different look.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the photos from your orange winter wonderland!
Joanna
Wow, so many geese! Haha, I’d also love to know what geese are talking about. Do you think it’s just the females talking while the males are listening? I also like sunny winter days – this means one can still be outside even if it’s cold.
It looks lovely there. You could almost be here in our little part of Wales as some of those shots are very similar to areas around here. 🙂
Do you pronounce Buoy in the British English way or the American English way! Asking for a friend!
Funny you should ask. I almost added “That’s ‘boy’ to us but ‘booey’ to them”.
It always makes me laugh when I hear the American pronunciation!
‘Wound’ your window up? Were you time-travelling, Carolyn? I’m sure you closed it using an electric switch. 🙂
I enjoyed the sunny bright day with its blue skies and lovely colours.
Best wishes, Pete.