My Life on the Mississippi

January 2025

January 2025

Not much happening.

Temperature swings from 20+ below to 40 above zero.

Some days very cold, 23 below 0 (55 below freezing), not counting the wind chill, schools close, meetings cancelled.

Some snow.

The river ice strange this year; very different from any we have seen in our 20 years on the river.

There is a spot that does not freeze easily on our stretch of the river. It is almost like there is a new hot spring at work.

The feeder is busy, as always, with Finches, Nuthatches, Chickadees, and Woodpeckers.

And the Blue Jays are particularly noticeable.

And squirrels, mostly brown, no red, one black

Not so many turkeys, especially when there is snow and cold. There is one who is wounded and limping, who is persistent.

It is a time to stay inside and watch; and perhaps do jigsaw puzzles.

But there are beautiful sunrises.

And a January moon.

And through it all-the river

---