as the season darkens

into winter,

 there is still light

 a flash of white in sunlit grasses

 and tess appears!

 not far from the place where i spotted a kingfisher 

several times, but

didn't see this day, probably gone south.

 we see ducks here, too.

 which tess ignores. 

i mean, there could be grouse close by so--off she goes.

 in the corner closest to my little garden between the granite ledges

 paper wasps were practicing their craft.

this is BIG.

 raccoon activity along the road

 and i've taken to talking back to these ravens

who gather nearby and quark loudly, 

as teenagers do.

there were seven yesterday.

i'd rather embarrass myself by quarking,
 trying out conversation

than take photos, 

so i didn't get all seven.

 popple/aspen and a trace.

 and it's gotten very very cold. 

in the single digits yesterday morning.

 neighborhood barn

 in front of which 

a plenty of high bush cranberries.

quite a crop.

but they're my neighbor's, 

not mine.

before the snow

it was clear and very cold.

and then it came

freezing everyone right up into little balls or broken pieces

but i love the cold

love how it makes me attend to its demands.

even though i do whine about it from time to time.

snow is expected again.

and the last of the sumac leaves here are gone. 

one branch broke completely

showing sumac's fragile heart.

stay warm and well and creative.

and the sumac?

it was in the pot today and the prints are drying.