The first shot of her was taken yesterday. Mid-morning. The others, from this morning.
I went back out yesterday after my daybreak walk, the winds were howling. Like I hadn’t had enough of this?
She was 50 yards out. She spotted me, and there was no doubt of her intentions. Human, Food. She tried to crawl up onto the ice and get to the shoreline. Unsuccessful. I walked further down, she was in full pursuit, like she was panicked that I would leave. Come on Man, I’m hungry. I kept walking. She followed. I had nothing on me. Nothing.
I turned, got into the car, didn’t look back. Couldn’t look back. You do know that feeding them is wrong, right?
It was colder this morning when I went out. Much colder.
A large part of the cove was frozen over.
She was on my mind. She hangs with a flock of Canada Geese. I haven’t seen her mate in months, likely basking in the Gulf of California.
And there she was. Sleeping soundly. Ice solidly formed around her.
And I stand, watching.
She responds to a whistle, but I couldn’t disturb her. Both hands in my pockets, the right scooping half a cup of itty bitty Nyjer seedlings, which I sift through my fingers.
Another day Girl. Another Day.
Notes:
- Photos: DK @ Daybreak. 6:24 to 7:19 am, January 30, 2022. 9° F, feels like -2° F. Cove Island Park, Stamford, CT Other photos from this morning here. Related Swan posts: Swan1
- Post title Inspired by Albert Einstein’s quote: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
Live & Learn 
So beautiful. There is a special connection. Some would call it projecting. I call it fellowship of living beings. 💛🙏💛
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Thank you Val. I like “fellowship of living being.” Your thought reminds me of:
I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.
— Alan Watts, Hermits in New York
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Love that quote 💕
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Val, this is so beautifully expressed! Love it….
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wonderful post, David…
is the birdseed for you? 🙂
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Laughing. I will eat almost anything!
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so now we know the secret to your surviving those early morning walks… 🙂
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Laughing. Secret is OUT!
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❤️
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❤️
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I used to ask my meditation teachers this: What do you mean about “the gift of human life? Life is hard! Life is suffering!” They said: this is your question to contemplate. Then one day, walking through the woods above the lake here, I realized, “Ah. These aren’t Christmas gifts; these are just “givens”. It is just a given that we have life.” And then I looked beyond that, to the lake, to the volcanoes and I think I said a sort of prayer for the first time ever. “At least, given that we have life, we are able to feel the “gifts” of color, warmth, fragrance, taste, touch, joy.” The gifts given to us with the givenness of this unasked for human life. Thanks for the moment of joy, David; it is a gift that you experience it. And that you share it.
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Beautiful Debra. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your kind words.
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I KNEW you’d come through, pal – I knew it!! I also like that you see her hanging with her peeps, possibly finding some solace in friendships to ease the loneliness of missing her mate. Deny it all you want, Dave, but underneath all the layers of coats and scarves and sweaters, there’s a helluva warm heart.
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Deny! Deny! Deny!
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No can do, buckaroo – you offered a glimpse…
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Laughing.
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It’s so hard for most living things to survive in the winter. A little help doesn’t hurt.
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I agree Anneli!
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I’m glad you didn’t have enough of it David 🤓😉such a wonderful post ~ smiles from the north hedy ☀️🕊
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Me too Hedy! Stay warm!
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Simply awesome!! How can you go out? … “Photos: DK @ Daybreak. 6:24 to 7:19 am, January 30, 2022. 9° F, feels like -2° F. Cove Island Park, Stamford, CT.”
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What a mensch. But then again, I knew it all along and since 2006
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LAUGHING!
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She knew…you knew. I’ll bet that most of us are relieved that you came back with something.
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Hmmm. Let’s see what happens in the morning. 🙄
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your heart shines through all your winter gear
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Thank you!
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Dave, you are a true softie under all that body armour, hi-tech camouflage. You know it, we know it, and it’s good to see you admit to it! This is a heart-touching tale and one I often wonder too: How do those delicate creatures survive that hardship of winter?
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Thank you Kiki. Smiling. I think exactly that each time I go out.
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Somehow missed this post yesterday, pal, but love it just as much this morning. Hope you saw your girl this morning…
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I didn’t! And I looked! 😦
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I often save your posts, David, to get back to later. Posts like this one is why.
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Thank you for letting me know Carolann.
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I feed the birds in my yard, every day. I get out of bed before 7:00 to clear the dishes and feeders and refill the heated birdbath. I feed crows and jays and squirrels and rabbits too. It’s much colder here.
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Beautiful!
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This broke my heart a little.
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Awwww…..
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Congratulations David. Great pictures!
Vicky
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Thanks Vicky!
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