1.20.15 I Trudged and He Raced and the Wind Swirled and the Eagle Swept By

It was about 19 degrees, bright sunshiny day, as we dropped him off at work, first day students are back at University, and headed out to try to find somewhere the pup could run, the ground would be flat, and maybe something new. 



Hadley Fields are high up, with a stellar view of The Mount Holyoke Range, where my home is nestled on it's foothill. The fields are filled with sick and sickness-giving ticks the rest of the year, but when covered with snow, why they are just fine. Broad and the view enormous, big skies, sometimes with a flock of wild turkey or deer far at the edge of the forests.




But the skies! What do you call those clouds? All that came to my mind was ladderback, but despite a small search, no type of cloud matched this loveliness as it spread in beautiful layers overhead.





     I hitched the pup up to his harness, pulled up scarf and hat and mittens and collar, and we ventured forth over the frozen tundra.
     Ok, ok, actually not tundra, but hey. Freezing cold! Wild winds veering past. Very beautiful

     So I trudged and he raced about, and we took note of tracks of different wild ones as we neared the forest and watched the clouds race across the broad sky.
     Coming toward us was a large bird, dark, with large wings that have that slow sweep , and so I stood and watch, and yes, It was an Eagle: not a large one, but old enough for the white areas, elegant as ever in its economical movements.
     I finally tired of the tromp, and put him on the leash, to race about me with glee, leaping and running, as we made our way back to the car.
     And on the way home, I noticed by the roadside one Robin there, in the glistening sun on the brilliant January day.