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High 26, mostly cloudy

This is a short post because while I meant to write all week, today flew by.  I have been anticipating the snow storm which has just started, and in doing so, I sort of lost track of the time.  I went for a morning run, to the diner for a hearty breakfast, and then spent time with my sister.

Spending time with my sister meant making mozzarella, a new family tradition for us LaCroixs.  I use a simple recipe that I found in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, and (as she says) it really only takes 30 minutes to make a pound of cheese!  Of course, I try to use local milk when possible, or just the best quality milk I can find. 

As I made cheese at my sister’s apartment, I enjoyed her view of Mount Tom.  She has a fantastic view of the summit out of almost every window of her apartment!  As we warmed ourselves in her kitchen, I tried to imagine Mt. Tom under 1 mile of ice, as it was during the last glaciation.  I looked to the darkening, clouded sky and tried to imagine beyond.  Beyond the clouds, up into the heavens.  Ice.  The trees clinging to the basalt columns almost seem like opportunists if you speed time forward in your mind, racing toward the present day.  Pine, maple, oak.  But still, there are those cliffs, now growing white and staying so for the next few months.

Ratomorphism

High 32, Wintery mix

I have been reading a bit about animal behavior lately and came upon an interesting idea.  For as long as I have been studying biology, I have known of the concept of “anthropomorphism,” ascribing human thoughts and emotions to animals.  For years this has allowed scientists to reason out particular behaviors.  The desire to explain animal behavior, such a human desire, runs deep.  Do animals really “care for” their young?  Do spiders spin a web to catch prey? 

Over the past century or so, scientists have found that it is nearly impossible to infer anything from the behavior of animals.  Studies on the behavior of rats in artificial conditions have brought up more questions than they have answered about the natural behavior of animals.  In fact, after watching lab rats navigate these abnormal conditions, scientists began explaining human behavior in terms of rat behavior.  I suppose that “gut decisions” and some “human instincts” seem more akin to the behavior of other animals.  But it’s not that simple.  This “ratomorphic” view of human behavior appears just as misleading as the anthropomorhic view of animal behavior.

New Year

High 31, partly cloudy

Although January 1st doesn’t mark any significant event in the natural world, I still get excited whenever New Year’s Day comes around.  I love the feelings of new beginnings, fresh starts and clean slates. 

My intention was to spend the New Year celebrating with some friends in the Catskills.  Unfortunately, the snow on Dec. 31 and the cold weather that followed made this impossible.  The windshield washer fluid froze as it was coming out of the sprayer, and I realized that the trip to the mountains might not be such a good idea this time.  So my husband, my best friend and I enjoyed a quiet Eve at home.  On New Year’s Day, we ventured out into the cold (10 degrees) for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

I had never been to Wendell State Park before, and it seemed appropriate to have new experiences on the first day of 2009.  Julie had never been on snowshoes before, either!  Luckily, the trails were very easy to follow and we had a great time breathing the fresh air and looking for animal tracks (the best one was a mouse track with the tail line still visible).

Wendell, MA New Year's Day 2009

Jane Lubchenco to Head NOAA

High 26, Partly cloudy

Apparently I have been too busy watching the juncos pecking at the seed scattered below my feeder because I missed the announcement on Dec. 18th that president-elect Barak Obama has appointed Jane Lubchenco to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  My congratulations to Dr. Lubchenco!

Jane Lubchenco is a Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University.  She is an inspiring teacher and advisor to graduate students (two brilliant friends of mine worked closely with her during their graduate studies), and she is a world-renowned environmental scientist and marine biologist.  Dr. Lubchenco’s work focuses on sustainability issues regarding marine systems and the impact humans have on their surroundings, but her work is broad and interdisciplinary, which makes it more difficult and more valuable.

Dr. Lubchenco’s work is well-known by ecologists and environmental scientists, and her honors are diverse and prestigious.  For a more thorough biography, please check out her page at OSU. 

What I think is the most important piece of Dr. Lubchenco’s work is her advocacy for scientists to step out of the lab and into public discussions.  Many scientists become scientists because they are curious about parts of the world around them.  They love what they study, and many love talking about it with other people in their field.  But too few scientists get involved in the bigger discussions about climate change, alternative energy, public policy and other issues on “Main Street”.  Many scientists either get so interested in their work that they ignore how their piece fits into the whole, or they just don’t want to bother with the whole. 

If you’ve ever hung around Bomb’s Away at 5pm on a Friday in Corvallis (Oregon, sorry New England), you know that scientists can be a social, lively, spirited bunch.  Gone are the days of the scientist sociopath!  We can certainly talk to eachother, so let’s talk to others.  Some scientists I know already do that kind of thing.  One friend in Canada spoke about climate change at a gathering in his small town.  Another friend works to educate young people and the public about invasive species in Massachusetts.  That’s kind of what this blog is about-documenting the natural world and sharing it with everyone.

As a tribute to Dr. Lubchenco, I will post a link to this blog in Facebook.  If you’re reading this, you are getting involved.

Environmentally Friendly Holidays

High 32, Cloudy and Snowing

Hanukkah begins at sundown, the winter solstice occurred at 0704 this morning, and Christmas is on Thursday.  I celebrate the solstice with friends and Christmas with my family, so I know I am a little late in posting a holiday tip.  But, here goes.  You might be waiting for the last minute to wrap presents like me, or you might have to pack this tip away for use next holiday (or birthday, for that matter). 

When looking for wrapping paper, don’t forget to check the thrift stores.  Some folks just don’t want to use the same pattern of wrapping paper two years in a row, so they discard half rolls and such.  This is great for those of us who want to reuse.  We can snatch up those partially used rolls for cheap!  And sometimes you can find really hip vintage patterns.

Snow, but not a snow day

High 37, cloudy and drizzling

The ice storm that came through the other day hit the hilltowns and even parts of the valley really hard.  There are still many families without power.  I am surprised how localized the storm was.  We had very warm temperatures the day after the ice, and then it has remained in the 30s, which feels mild.

A couple of inches of snow fell last night.  The sticky kind.  I am glad I shovelled because the drizzle that’s falling now is going to make it that much heavier.

After the storm

High 36, mostly cloudy

The ice storm that came last night was mild in the Easthampton area, but left the hilltowns and the northern Pioneer Valley with a thick glaze and no power.  By noon, the ice had melted off the branches in downtown Easthampton.  Mountain Road stayed open throughout the storm and was safe at 10 am when I drove to work.

Ice storms in New England play an important role in shaping the natural landscape and increasing the biodiversity of the forests.  These storms are common in our area, and more dramatic and frequent in the higher elevations and in northern New England.  The effect is fallen trees and broken tree limbs, both of which allow light to reach the forest floor.  The openings are opportunities for herbaceous plants and for pioneer trees like White Pine (Pinus strobus) to exploit.  Finally, they get their chance!  The seeds that have been dormant for years can sprout, and the new plants can grow (and sometimes become a source of reachable browse for deer and other animals).

I went for a very short hike in the Dwyer Conservation Area this afternoon.  I forgot that there was a flood warning for this area, and when I got to the trail head I saw that sure enough, the Manhan River had swelled.  I could walk no further than to the first bench.  The water was almost over the high banks here.  If we get more water, the river will surely spill out onto the floodplain.

High water at the Dwyer Conservation Area

From the banks I thought about how fun it might be to kayak in these high waters.  When the rivers are flooded, you can float over fields and through people’s backyards; you can go places you could never go otherwise.  But a second look at the water told me that kayaking the Manhan today might not be such a good idea.  Strange eddies and odd currents made the water look unpredictable, wild and mysterious.  Maybe even dangerous!  I’ve fallen in the Manhan in November, and that’s an experience I don’t want to relive.  I’ll wait till spring and watch from the bench.

View from the bench

The ice storm cometh

High 36, rainy

A warm front brought mild temperatures up into the 60s yesterday.  The rain that came with the warmth and the air felt like spring, but a hesitant spring.  Everyone could tell that the warm weather wouldn’t last, and that a drop in temperature was on the way.  That brings us to today.  While much colder, it hasn’t gotten to the freezing point.  Yet.  Ice is expected later, when the temperatures dip even further.

First snow

High 35.  Cloudy, light snow.

It began snowing around midnight last night, and we now have almost an inch of snow on the ground.  The temperature is above freezing now, so most of the snow on the walkways and roads has melted.  Snow flakes are fluttering about in the air, promising what NOAA predicts-more snow this afternoon. 

I love the snow, as I love all things that mark the changing seasons.  In New England there are those who love the snow, those who hate it, and those who tolerate it.  While shovelling is not one of my favorite things to do, sometimes it’s fun.  I really can’t complain about shovelling the short length of sidewalk in front of my house.  I am healthy and strong, and there is always a rewarding cup of hot chocolate waiting for me inside. 

Then there are the really fun things about the snow.  Skiing, sledding, snowshoeing and just strolling along while the flakes fall.  Tracking animals is particularly fun and somewhat easy in the snow. 

Birds visit my feeders throughout the year, but in winter I get the most joy out of watching them.   House finches and gold finches came today, and I saw a junco on the old sunflower stalks in the back yard.  I wonder who will be next.

Twilight

40 degrees- Cloudy

The clouds have made it feel like twilight for most of the day.  It is humid for December, with light showers and drizzle.  The mild weather meant that I didn’t have to scrape my windshield this morning, as I have in the recent weeks.  There was, however, a layer of ice on Perfume Pond when I drove past at 7am on my way to work.  In the afternoon, the ice was gone and a haze on the surface of the water had taken its place. 

In the garden, most of my perennial herbs have succumbed to the frosts of early winter.  The peppermint and spearmint are almost all brown, while there is still a bit of herbage on the thyme and oregano.  I would prefer not to dig them up and bring them inside, but I am starting to get the feeling that I should do it so I can enjoy them throughout the cold months.  It won’t be long until the first accumulation of snow- the NOAA website predicts snow showers this weekend.

As this semester winds down, I will get my camera out when I go for my walks and hikes.  Stay tuned for pictures of winter!