March 26 and 27, 2026

I'm sorry I missed last night.  I went to a reading with Jo and Amie in Amherst and got home exhausted.

Candace and Lauren read last night at Amherst Books.  It was a really good reading.  I had an ultrasound in the morning and was exhausted, but I put one foot in front of the other and was glad I did, not only did I get to be with friends but I heard good words which is nourishing for me.  But I was too tired for this.
 

I think that the duck communities sent out scouts today to check out places to nest.  I actually think the rookery is an excellent place for them to make their homes this year.  There were at least six different duck pairs and Canada geese.  The Common Mergansers were home.  At least 3 males were having a good time and I saw two pairs of Black ducks and two pairs of wood ducks.  There were several with a wide flat beak.  It just seems to be pretty healthy in there this spring.  But still no herons.    

It was 39 at 3:30 today and partly cloudy.  It was lovely.  I drove on up and immediately ran into this flock of turkeys.  There were at least 20 of them.   Their coloring repeats the forest floor.  

This old tree on Bardswell Ferry that I have photographed a million times had fallen apart and disintegrated over night.  It was rotten all the way down the base.  Home to many many insects and food to many many birds, I'd say.  

Two pairs of geese on the beaver pond today.  This guy is truly staking his ground.  

I covered for Clara tonight at LAVA.  David Detmold read from his book to a fairly large crowd.   People really enjoyed it.  He rides his bicycle across the US through reservations and documents  his experiences collecting stories and learning about language and culture with a tent and sleeping bag packed onto the back of his bike.

Physically I am not doing well and I probably shouldn't work again until I at least have the cardiology issues figured out, but it was nice to remember I live in a great community.  Working at LAVA has always done that for me.