Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Gray

Sunrise into Winter Sky


Clear skies left us last week.
And a thick blanket was drawn across from the western horizon.
In the eastern sky, a gap yet uncovered.
Where the rising sun burns, before hiding itself behind the heavy, gray cloak.


From the window, facing the woods, I watch as a Gray Squirrel readies his nest for winter. The large crumpled leaves of the sycamore, almost more than he can manage, carried one by one to the top of the tallest tree.


When the wintry skies blow fiercely, I will think of him there.
Wrapped in his leafy blanket.
The Gray beneath the gray.




See more Skywatch here.

And see more Camera Critters here.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

55 comments:

KGMom said...

You are clearly thinking more charitably of your squirrels than I am of mine.
So poetic--the gray beneath the gray.

Anonymous said...

As I look to the nature preserve behind me, the hills and sky are colored grey. I yearn for the days of green and the days of red and gold, but this is beautiful in its own special way.

bobbie said...

Beautiful photos. I hope "the Gray" refers to the squirrel rather than the skies. They appear very blue to me and very beautiful.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Minnesota has been blanketed in gray for several days now. November is our grayest month of the year. I always forget that until we're on our ump-teenth day of graaaaay.

Leslie: said...

We also have a lot of grey here now. However, today a strong, blustery wind has blown it away and we're left with blue skies and chilly temps that are seeping through the latchless window of my office. Your photos are stunning and your narrative exquisite. :)

polona said...

yep, grey seemsth colour of the season right now... same here.
but your photos are wonderful and your words sheer poetry.
i think you've got yourself a regular reader :)

Brad Myers said...

Good post and photos, it is the season. Are you supplying your little friend with nuts?

Kathleen McQueen Wright said...

Beautiful Sunrise!!

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful colours! Love that second shot the best:) Mine is, HERE.

Nova said...

such a nice lovely gray sky, love to watch the squirrel too... good job and Nice shot!!! it is perfectly fascinating... love the sky...

check out mine HERE

Juliana RW said...

beautiful sunrise...

My SWF post this week : in HERE or HERE. I hope you have time to visit. Thanks

rhoen said...

wow! loved the compositions of each photo! happy skywatching!

My Skywatch entry is HERE!

Anonymous said...

Odd as it may sound, gray is one of my favorite colors! Love the litte squirrel, and the idea of him sleeping away under the gray.

shaker said...

Great post and photos !

Anonymous said...

Your pictures and your narrative are equally creative. A beautiful post.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful series of shots.
:-)

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Nina: What a neat Sunrise into the cloudy sky. I liked your squirrel story.

Photo Cache said...

The shots are very nice, and very colorful. But what struck me is how you wrote about Gray and his preparations. Oh I hope you continue this story.

Ivar Østtun said...

Beautiful photos. In Norway we call this hour before sunrise and after sunset for the Blue Hour. Everything seems to turn blue, we see that best in the winter season.

imac said...

Love the grey , beautiful time.

Anonymous said...

Soooo pretty & soooo blue - Very pretty!!! Nice shots!!!

Carletta said...

Wonderful writing to accompany your lovely images!
'gray beneath the gray' - I will tend to think of that when I watch my squirrels playing and gathering.

vincibene said...

Wonderful pictures, fascinating colors. And a beautiful squirrel photo.

Unknown said...

Great piccies, love the colours and the squirrel

Michele said...

I once again enjoyed visiting your blog this week... a delight. The squirrel story was quite nice!! =)
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat- Canada

Jane Hards Photography said...

Beautiful Rhasopdy in blues.

Kim said...

Yes we have plenty of gray squirrels here and our gray skies are not nearly as lovely as yours.

Wonderful post.

Kathie Brown said...

As long as "The Gray" refers to sky and squirrel and not to your mood, we are all okay! Nice story and photos. I enlarged the squirrel photo and noticed the wire from a bird feeder. He certainly knows where to perch, doesn't he!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Beautiful photos, skies and writing. And cute fuzzy squirrel, too.

Happy Sky Watch Friday!
~Lisa
New Mexico

Arija said...

November is the grey month woth fog and rain and before sealed roads, mud, lots of mud. I like to think o you caring about your suirrel in the depths of winter.
Nive photos and squirrel of course.

Unknown said...

It's a reality check to think that the nature we go out exploring in is home to all creatures great and small ... and in all weather conditions.

Unknown said...

Love the photo with the barn.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I suppose the whole winter season up in your neck of the woods would mostly be gray. And cold!
Brenda

Grammy said...

Great photo's & amazing colors. I love the squirl.
We have red in sky here tonight.
Happy SWF!

Dave Coulter said...

Your post sure captured the mood.
Well done!

Rottlady of the Ozarks said...

Very nice, I hope the squirrel keeps warm! Happy SWF

Vickie said...

Beautiful photos of a wintery mood and lovely prose.

Kay said...

Excellent sky watch photos! I love that grey squirrel! Happy weekend.

Gemma Wiseman said...

What a wonderful series of shots! And loved the accompanying comments!

Anonymous said...

I love the chilliness of those skies - very evocative!

hitch writer said...

Nice pics... as they say... beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

pts said...

what a beautiful series of pic!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Kathie--you're very perceptive. That IS a the hanger of a feeder right beside the Gray Squirrel--BUT, fortunately for us, the squirrels are not stealing bird seed, right now. The ground is covered with hickory nuts that they're eating and burying all over the yard.
Then, I'll throw out corn to postpone the inevitable.
He'll raid the feeders soon enough!

A Colorful World said...

As always, a fantastic post, Nina! I love your thoughts of the squirrel safe and warm in his nest! The sunrise photos are wonderful! Great Skywatch!
Marie

Bevson said...

A beautiful Skywatch! I love your reflection on the squirrel. Our oaks produced no acorns this year. None at all. I worry about the squirrels and cannot begrudge them a go at the feeders. Instead of a leafy nest, mine are safe and dry in an old owl box.

Dawn Fine said...

lovely..I just adore your writing and have been showing you off to all my friends...thanks.

Deb said...

Beautiful SkyWatch photo & I loved the picture of the grey squirrel. Walking around the neighbourhood yesterday we were watching squirrels with their mouths full of Maple leaves building big nests :-)

Anonymous said...

Love the blue in your photos. happy swf and thanks for the comment.

Mary said...

After our usual 25 consecutive days of bright sun, we have gray skies. I like it for a short while...

Stunning photos of the sun heating the gray.

It's always a treat to visit here.

Mary

kuanyin333 said...

Love this rich blue sky and lovely prose! Happy SWF!

Kyle said...

Beautiful as always, Nina!

DeniseinVA said...

A lovely series of photographs, I enjoyed them very much. I loved the tinge of pink in the top photo, and your squirrel photo was darling. Great post.

Max-e said...

It looks like it was a cold morning and I guess it is going to get colder. I do not envy you your winters. Nice shots

ratmammy said...

very nice photos!

Misty DawnS said...

I think I may have told you before, but I'll repeat myself - I really like your writing style.

These are great photos too! You've got lots of talent.