Once again the sky was bright blue when I left for my walk, but, that sunny and bright blue sky belied just how brisk and downright cold it was this morning. Though I was dressed for the weather, I felt the wind whipping around and seeping through my hat and hooded scarf.  Since my boss was out again this morning, I suited up for a long trek down to the marina.   Even if I didn’t feel that wicked wind infiltrating my clothes and stinging my face, the effect was heard countless times as I walked past wind chimes that were sounding very melodic as they made a chorus all their own in the brisk breeze.

I hadn’t checked how my feathered and furry friends were doing at their “joint birdfeeder” in a couple of days, and, there they were, just as I last left them, side by side, munching away on the birdseed, with the sparrows clinging to the squirrel-proof feeder and the squirrel happily ensconced in the planter while lapping up the dregs of seeds that have spilled out of the feeder. The birds queue up for their turn on a nearby bush, their chirps and cheeps audible, despite the constant stream of vehicles that zoom up and down Emmons Boulevard.  The scene was amiable, like a group of paisanos tucked away in a tiny Italian restaurant drinking wine, breaking bread and talking about the good old days.  You’ll remember from my prior posts, that I always get a chuckle when I pass by this house and their affinity for wildlife – for me, it is “cheep” entertainment.

The songbirds are lucky this year because people went ahead and stocked up on birdseed fearing another cold Winter, but, that was not to be, and homeowners continued filling their feeders, even though most birds would have been able to get nourishment from grubs, or even berries, like this Cedar Waxwing pictured above.

As I crossed the Ecorse Creek footbridge, I took a gander for geese – there were none, and the mallards were missing as well, since the ice-melting progress was thwarted by the cold temps and once again a layer of ice topped the murky water. There were lots of tree branches and garbage that had floated in the water, then frozen in place.  I continued on my trek down to the marina where it was the same scenario.  The tiny, cove-like area was devoid of ducks, and, in its place was a light layer of ice.  It looked pretty though, as the sun glinted onto the icy sheen sending out random prisms.  I would have liked to stay longer, but it was not a morning for lingering.

On the return trip home, the wind was whipping into my face and it seemed like there was a big hand pushing me back as I walked. My nose and eyes began to run and I was grateful to finally turn the corner to the opposite direction without any pushback from that wind.

I noticed the cold temps had some smaller birds huddling together near the chimneys keeping their feet toasty – I sympathized with them, as I was not feeling so warm and toasty myself, but my stay out in the elements was short-lived, compared to theirs. Once I neared my house, I was happy to see the steam pouring out of the furnace pipe, so I nearly flew into the house, anxious for that warm air to envelope me just as soon as I closed the door.  I was more than ready to wrap my hands around a big cup of coffee plus I was starving.  Where in the world  did that big bowl of oatmeal go that I ate at the crack of dawn? Down to my cold toes I suspect.