First snow

It’s nothing to get too excited about -- the snow shovel remains safe and stowed in the garage -- but my part of the world saw its first snow of the season last night. Cindy Lou had stayed up until 2 AM decorating the house for Christmas, which she does so well. Waking up this morning to the first dusting of winter seems appropriate and another good reason to celebrate the season.

I pulled out some of our winter solstice music collection last week, too. Windham Hill Records released A Winter’s Solstice, their first eclectic offering of this season, in 1985. Since that time they have released a handful of solstice recordings. We have a soft spot in our hearts for them all. Since Cindy and I were engaged on autumnal equinox and married on winter solstice, these recordings celebrating the turning of seasons hold special meaning for us.

The birds seem to be behaving differently this week, too. I know we’re getting a much better look at them since the feeders went up, as mentioned in this blog a couple weeks ago. But with the leaves down, we are able to look more deeply into the trees out back and last week we both spotted not one, but TWO, pileated woodpeckers working the standing timber in the yard behind us. I spotted two hawks at different times perched up high above our backyard, too, last week.

Grandson Noah correctly guessed that a chickadee was the first bird into the feeder. He was not here to see it, but I challenged him by saying the first bird was a pretty common one for us. He guessed correctly. I’m so proud of him! Along with chickadees, we’ve also had red bellied and downy woodpeckers, goldfinches, tufted titmice, white breasted nuthatches, house sparrows, house finches, and juncos. I'm keeping a careful eye out for a hermit thrush at the birdbath, too. And, of course, cardinals, and well, squirrels. Last year squirrels didn’t seem too interested, but we’ve witnessed at least one already make its way across the canopy tubing and up onto the window ledge a couple of times. From there, it’s a short vertical jump to a bounty of peanuts, suet, and sunflower seeds. And I don’t think a bird ever gets the stale bread we throw out on the back porch, either. Chipmunks and squirrels are the diners on that stuff.

So winter is progressing. I know it’s not officially here yet, but the temperature and conditions seem pretty blustery. My body tells me it’s winter.

But my heart and head tell me it’s also Christmas. Placed in the Christian calendar to match up with winter solstice celebrations, it seems appropriate to celebrate both the hope of new birth and the coming of deep cold at the same time. It’s all life in this world that we know. Let us celebrate being a part of it. After all, this moment is really all we have.

Today’s elder idea: Our true home is in the present moment. To live in the present moment is a miracle.

Thich Nhat Hahn