January 25, 2025

Drove to Bard and back.  It was a day adventure with friends.




It was very cold again this morning but there were tons of song birds in the side yard and on the roof of the garage.  Bluebirds are so skittish, the sparrow land close and they fly away.  Their colors are so lovely on the bright white snow.  

We actually made pretty good time. We didn't leave Greenfield until about 12:30; EJ had to chop ice up for the chickens. 

 But off they went, back to school to do their last year and finish their "project."  I am so proud of them.  I also am excited by their academic life.  I love reading their work and following their studies.  I get a big hit of school by hearing about it, student transference 


Diane and I were reminiscing about our Sr. years  at Marlboro.  The size of the two institutions is the main reason for the differences between the two, Marlboro and Bard. But we couldn't remember if we took any classes in our senior years, or did we just do a writing tutorial.   I think I had a few tutorials that correlated with my exams at the end.  EJ has a couple of classes on top of writing their project.  I'm so excited for them, but I get why that's kind of obnoxious.  

Today was the first time in 4 years that I did that trip wearing glasses, I have not owned a pair since they went off to college.  It was much more relaxing to drive with them on.  Even as it got dark it was easier because I have finally gotten used to placing my head where it needs to be in relation to the progressive lenses.  A giant relief where I didn't know one would be.

I saw three eagles and 8 hawks and we had one owl fly in front of us.  Not sure what kinds of hawks they were, identified two red tailed and I think a Broad hawk, but didn't identify the others.   The deer were out just as we left the Taconic and got on the Pike.  A herd of them were grazing on a hillside.  And the sun slipped down without too much fanfare.  I thought maybe we'd hit some snow,  but by the time we crossed the Housatonic the clouds were no longer threatening.  

I didn't take as many photos as I saw.  It's kind of hard when you just want to get there and come back.  We split the driving up, but it's impossible to take bird photos from a moving car.  

The owl that swooped down had darker feathers on the outside edges of his wings.  The shape was heart shaped, didn't see it fast enough, but thought it was eerie, magic.  

Tomorrow I have to print pictures all day, but maybe I'll get a few taken too.    





 

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