Gifts of Unexpected Snow

Unexpected sights on snowy days.

View on a Run…Copyright © 2023 David E. Marlow

Taking Joy in Simple Pleasures

One can find pleasure in the most unexpected things. Last week, while on a run, I spotted these two Canadian Geese paddling in the pond near my home.

Warm weather had thawed the pond and invited the geese as guests. As is often the case in Wisconsin Spring, the warmth was short-lived.

The beauty of the new snow and the sight of the geese on the pond caught my eye. I stopped for a moment to take it in.

The Unexpected

It was snowing again this morning. I was writing at my desk I took a break to glance out the window as I sipped my coffee.

Something catches my eye.

A large black crow flew by carrying what looked like a mouse. It roosts on my neighbor’s roof, and others join it.

Moments later, they all take off their flapping wings creating a snowy cloud.

The writing can wait.

My return to writing is brief as a short while later, I spot several of the ebony birds on the ground fighting a red-tailed hawk.

The crows, as it turns out, were not after the red-tail at all. Somehow this hawk had gotten the mouse and had it pinned to the ground in its claws.

Hawk and crow circled. The mouse is not visible.

The mouse was going to be a meal for one of these birds. The snow stopped, and I could see more clearly. They pecked and tussled for several minutes. The hawk held firm against the murderous¹ group.

One by one the crows gave up until only the hawk and a single crow remained. Moments after I took this picture it must have become obvious to the remaining crow, the hawk was not giving up the meal, and it flew away.

Being Busy

In both cases I was busy. It would have been easy to justify continuing my run or writing.

I embraced them as gifts rather than interruptions.

And each time my day was better for having done so.

Oh look…it’s snowing again.

1. A group of crows is called a ‘murder.’