Gracious surprises

Clem, Gus and .... Sadie

Gray, dark, chilly and damp... that was all I was going to have to say about November. The title of this blog was slated to be "Not so much, November." The gray days and lack of sunlight was getting to me. 

However, some much needed rain and a rainbow delighted me on November 20. Originally, I headed out on the drizzly evening without a camera. Rain showers ensued. Then the sun appeared creating a brilliant spectacle on an otherwise dreary day. I ran across two or more acres to retrieve my camera. Thank goodness, it was all downhill. The dogs excitedly ran with me, apparently thinking I was in hot pursuit of some prey. 

I'm sure I was quite the sight in a bright yellow rain slicker running in the rain. The rainbow was a gracious surprise and a delightful detour from the gray skies. 

Sun dog

Earlier in the month I was surprised by some other rainbow-colored phenomenon. 

Sun dog

"A sun dog is similar to a rainbow and more common," wrote author James J. Garriss in an article about sun dogs posted on www.almanac.com. He continued to explain that both rainbows and sun dogs are formed by moisture filtering the sunlight.

"A sun dog is seen about twenty-two degress (22°) to the left or right of the Sun. Sun dogs often form in pairs on either side of the Sun," Garriss wrote. 

One other interesting point was that to view a rainbow, one must look away from the sun, and, to view a sun dog, one would look toward the sun. 

Meanwhile as the days grew shorter, I found some solace in the flowers blooming in the basement. They basked in the artificial sun of some grow lights. The shortest day of the year will be Dec. 20 or Dec. 21 with only 9 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds of daylight. However, the earliest sunset is right around the corner on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 at 4:50:41 p.m. 

Lil' Bit

The flowers had been able to enjoy the real sun and protection from the frost on the front porch. Lil' Bit also soaked up the sun on his hammock. However, December temperatures quickly cooled and even the porch became too cold for both the flowers and the cat. 

Clem and Sadie

The lack of light for our evening walks was not helpful as far as photography. However, the dogs provided some inspiration. They also discovered a rather morbid surprise in early November.

It was the heavily decomposed remains of an eight-point buck that I had captured on the game camera several times this year.

They had visited the area where he lay about a week earlier, but I paid no mind as no one seemed to be rolling in or eating anything. However, the pungent odor of decay led me to check out the area. The buck was such an awesome photo subject even though I technically never snapped the shutter.

​I decided to call the Pennsylvania Game Commission and get a salvage permit. The cost was $10 a point.

The deer was so far gone, I only obtained the head. While talking with the game wardens, I said I watched the buck on camera and never named him. One of them suggested "Louie," and the name stuck. I was able to show them some photos of Louie before his demise. Louie in some earlier photos had what appeared to be a wound on his left check that would heal and then open again.

The wardens surmised that this or possibly a bad shot led to his death. There wasn't much left of Louie to tell that story. So, while holding my breath, I attempted to clean Louie up as much as I could. However, I left most of that job to a local taxidermist and his skull-cleaning beetles. 

I planned on doing a European skull mount as there was really no flesh left to persevere. Louie's skull should be ready in a few months. In the meantime, I decided to gather photos of Louie from this year.

​I hope to mount them in an old window frame somewhere near the skull. Louie deserved to on display even if nature didn't necessarily have those plans for him. 

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While I wait for the return of Louie, I'm still thankful for little surprises that help brighten my dreary days. My first snowfall with Milo and Otis was entertaining. Otis was willing to brave the weather and venture outside the pen. Milo, despite his longer coat, abhorred the snow and frantically called Otis to come back inside their shed. 

While I try to cope with the lack of sun, the trail camera has been stealthily snapping away.

I appreciated the fact that it was able to capture some photos in the fleeting moments where the sun was out. I did hope for some snow to provide some brighter scenery.

​I desperately wished that in our travels we would not come across any more deceased deer.

​However, it was hunting season.

Nonetheless, a couple of inches of snow could make anything disappear until the temperature warms up and that's just the nature of things 'round here. 

2025 Nature of Things calendar available. The cost is $13.75 a piece. Calendars can be mailed for an additional $7. Email [email protected].