Day 84

March 25, 2021

Reflections in Puffers Pond

I ran away from home today.  Originally, I was just going to visit David at Puffers Pond, but it became more than that.  The first thing I bumped into was burning at the orchard.  It had been raining and everything was wet and colors were vibrant.

The pond was absolutely peaceful, still, gentle.  This duck was near the dock when we walked up to the pond, but she left us and stayed fairly far away for most of the time we were there, but she did not leave.   She was definitely a dunking duck.

The water looked like a huge watercolor.  We were almost entirely alone there and the only thing causing any ripples was the duck.

The reflection of the dead tree looked like silver filigree.  There were a few other birds, a pair of nuthatch were building a nest behind the sauna. One large hawk was very high up.  There were fish jumping.  And by the time I left it was 70 degrees.

Went to Michaels and got the few frames I still needed and a new journal.  And then I knew I had to wander back roads in the beautiful weather.  It was glorious.  The sun had come out.

I didn't get photos.  I just drove slowly taking the less direct road at all intersections.  I turned the ride from Amherst to Greenfield into an hour and I kept going to the rookery.  I stayed there for another hour and watched it through the 500 mm lens.  There is a lot of life all of a sudden and a lot of noise.  It is so different. 

A pair of muskrat have built a small home right on the edge of the water by the road so I could watch them do their thing.  They really do look like some animal from the Wind and the Willows. Can you see them?  They could swim right through the house and pop up in front of me.

It felt good to be out of my normal activity.  Visiting with David is always wonderful and then I was able to  get what I needed and brain storm solutions to issues involved with my show.  I felt a level of freedom I haven't felt for awhile.

The two heron were exploring together and separate.  They stayed in two different nests for a time and then flew back down to the edge of the water.  This one came quite near me, The ice is melting and the reed bed is beginning to fill up and there must be food now.

I got home and the moon was up above the hawk trees.  I guess it will be full in 2 days.  I hope we get to see it.