Making a Friend

MAKING A FRIEND
By Alison McGhee.

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal.

With the sparest text and softest watercolors, McGhee and Rosenthal lovingly evoke the pleasures of the season’s first snow. A red-capped boy makes a snowman, giving him pebble eyes, a carrot nose and, finally, his own red hat to wear. When the snow melts, the snowman doesn’t really disappear: he is in the falling water, the rain on the ocean and the fog. He is always with the boy and will always come back in this tender paean to cold weather and enduring friendship.

A simple story - Boys builds snowman - Snowman melts - The first snow - Boys builds snowman again. McGhee blends in the phrase, "What you love will always be with you", to give the story new meaning.

Over and Under the Snow

 

OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW
By Kate Messner.

Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal.

 As a girl and her father cross-country ski in a snowy wood, a “secret kingdom” of burrowed animals busy themselves beneath their feet. Various clues awaken the girl to the intricacies of this unseen habitat: “An oval of melted snow tells the story of a good night’s sleep.” Messner packs much information into the serene wintry landscape, beautifully captured in Neal’s stunning retro-style illustrations. Calm, lovely and richly informative.

A good winter read before taking that snowy walk in the woods.

Snowy Owl

As the old Scotsman Alexander Hislop once said, "The third time's lucky. "

On two previous attempts the Snowy Owl that has taken up residence at the NY Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls was a no show. But this morning at 9:15 AM drove the the outer driveway of the campus and pulled into the parking area south of the maintenance building. There it was sitting in the bleachers.

Snowy Owl in Bleachers

After watching the Snowy for several minutes drove the road that leads to the soccer fields. This location provided a better view and my presence did not seem to bother the owl. After awhile the owl took flight and perched in a tree along the hedgerow. There three Crows began to harass the owl. The owl acting nonchalant eventually flew off into the farm field west of the hedgerow.

Packing up to leave two maintenance men pulled up. Tim and Jim asked if I had gotten a good look at their visitor. They were enthused that the Snowy Owl has made the campus a birding destination. Referred them to the recent NYT article, Bird-Watcher Revel in Unusual Spike in Snowy Owl Sightings.

 Snowy Owl in Tree

One birder mentioned that there was evidence of the Snowy Owl's sitting on the bleachers. True enough.

This was a life bird for me. Look forward to returning to view the Snowy Owl again before the bird heads north.

Week Six - 46 to Go

The mystery is did Michael Crichton really contributed to this book. This novel is about as believable as the Walt Disney Pictures comedy film, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Unfortunately MICRO was not as entertaining.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2012

Birding - Monteuma

South Spring Pool

This week there was a Snowy Owl reported to be on the campus of the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls. Drove over this morning. Using the paved driveway circled around the perimeter of the campus. Stopped at the bleachers on the west side of the maintenance building. No Snowy. Continuing on down and through the State Park came upon Wolfy’s Restaurant of which Rusty has spoken highly. Cayuga Lake was teeming with Canada Geese and Mallards.

Pulled into the South Spring Pool parking lot around 9:20 AM. There was some open water to the north but there were no birds.

Drove into May's Point and continued over the bridge. In the bushes at the school bus turn-around were 15 House Sparrows. A Downy Woodpecker flew in for a quick look before departing for the canal. A lone American Crow and a single Ring-bill Gull flew overhead as I was leaving.

 House Sparrow (F)

With the exception of 2 Chickadees and 3 House Sparrows at the Dead End, Van Spoor Road was barren.

The Muckrace drew a crowd of 110 Canada Geese. Noticed several were banded. A select group paraded across the ice for me.

 Band on left leg?

Parade

Martens Tract had no visitors today but a person of royalty may have been there recently.

Lost Leopard Slipper

At the Noga Blind Canada Geese way back and cattails up close.

Floating on Crusoe Creek were 35 Canada Geese. A flock of Canada Geese heading North caused the floaters to take flight.

Another fun day in birding. One thing about Canada Geese and Sparrows they stand still for you. 

Also in birding you can always count on your friends. On its usual McDonald Road telephone pole waiting for my return home was the Red-tail Hawk. After acknowledging my presence it left its perch and flew into the woods where 3 Crows tried unsuccessfully to harass it.

1st Day February 2012

Wednesday February 1, 2012

Casey Park

The Hilton Garden Inn

Emerson Park

Hoopes Park

Cayuga College Trail

Extras:

Emerson Park - "Cud"dly Cow

Cayuga College Trail - Mallards

1st Day of the Month 2012 Project

Charlie Parker Played be bop - Chris Raschka

Chris Raschka provides children a sense of jazz music without playing a note.

Raschka captures another side of Charlie Parker when he pictures Parker looking at a trombone and scratching his head.

"A Night in Tunisia"