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Winter Blue Jay - photograph ©Bruce A. Morrison | |
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New Year has been with us for a bit over a week and I'm still pondering
what just happened...for one, last year was over before it began...for
another thing, it was good and not so good at the same time. Confusing
huh.
We
had entered our 4th straight year of drought here; the spring and
summer weren't what we needed to change that, but still there was some
moisture at opportune times...it helped the garden, and helped the
farmers "just" enough to quell our tendency to dwell on our
circumstances.
The
Herons returned to the rookery here, the neighbor's fields were
prepared and planted, and the pastures started greening up - things
seemed "normal". How we've grown to expect things to move along as we
are so accustomed!
Then
drought repeated...the Herons abandoned their rookery for the first
time since the nesting colony was established well over 20 years ago.
(The Waterman dried for the first time in memory in 2022, and went into
winter with a vulnerable fishery pooled up in small isolated pools -
which froze to the bottom in the 22-23 winter temps.) The Waterman quit
flowing once again this past summer after Labor Day.
The
small birds of the yard and pasture were still a joy; we had Bluebirds
nesting again for the first time since the drought began in 2021.
However it was the first year we've witnessed Tree Swallows failing to
nest here. We arrived here over 20 years ago and became accustomed to
20-30 Barn Swallows patrolling the acreage; this year we had 6 pairs,
down from 7-8 last year.
Some
notable plants in our pasture, having gone dormant 3-4 years past,
still did not reappear. However our gravel esker hillside still offered
up amazing color, albeit shorter stature and blooming time.
"Another" year saw historical warm global temperatures.
The world once again roiled in turmoil.
As summer progressed, our family suffered joy and great loss.
As
fall came into it's time, we saw warmer temps and an unusual gift of
6.5" of rain in 2 days...it was appreciated and celebrated by everyone
here! It got the Waterman flowing once more, however small the flow may
be - its a good thing.
Then
the warmest November and December I've ever remembered myself. The
ground stayed receptive (unfrozen) and we got an inch and a half of rain
here on Christmas Eve day and Christmas day!
We did manage a south pasture burn in November;
I had been picking seed all fall and had finally decided to broadcast
it over the top of the south pasture on the 23rd of December. Hopefully
this planting will see fruition!
And
now we start this second week of the New Year with a return to what we
are always accustomed to here - frigid temperatures and snow. Lets keep
that sowed seed covered!
Yes
it was an uncommon year - at least for us. We are thankful for the
Blessings from it, and pray for all those around us who have loved and
lost, toiled, reaped and harvested. May this New Year be kind to you
and may you be kind to others. We are all of one family and this world
is our only home.