A Day in December


A cold December wind scuds across my face as I step from my SUV onto the shoulder. An abandoned barn with it's faded walls, rusted and patchwork quilted roof is a quiet backdrop to the red berries my camera harvests.

Twenty six eyes stare down at me from the mountain across the road. There. Can you see them? Thirteen turkey vultures clutch a single tree's branches while my feet sidle across the cold, hard surface of the asphalt below.

Around the corner my eyes ingest a small waterfall. Each wave falling away from another. No rest for the weary rocks below it's fury.  When I look up I see one, two even four turkey vultures taking flight against this day's winter gray sky.   Through my lens I notice one circling vulture peering down. He seems to be saying, "I see you!"

11 comments:

lissa said...

I like the way you describe the day, almost like a story book...

beth said...

and turkey vultures are mean looking....
I wish you could have gotten a photo of them !

the last time I saw them, I was on a back road with some girlfriends on our way to another friends house and of course....NO CAMERA !

at first I thought they were wild turkeys...they were that big !

Karen said...

Any vulture give me the willies! I love your use of the lens and the way you drink it all in.

Did you not get our huge snowfall? We have 18 inches of snow, and I'm only a short distance away from you!

Tumblewords: said...

A beautiful photo of a winter day. Love the animation, the litany of noticed items and your delightfully descriptive words!

lisaschaos said...

So beautiful! You painted a vivid picture in my mind. :)

Jeeves said...

Lovely image and post

Annie said...

I love the "patchwork quilted roof" Lovely snow scene in my mind. Wishing you a happy holiday, Michelle.

Caroline Gill said...

Sorry - for 'those' please read 'though'!

Caroline Gill said...

Those berries are bright and beautiful, Michelle! Very seasonal. It sounds as though you have had the same amount of snow as us - those ours is hard and icy - no slush here at present.

utenzi said...

With all those vultures in attendance, it's a good thing you didn't fall down. I look forward to seeing the picture of the vultures!

Naquillity said...

beth i actually did capture a shot of all thirteen vultures in a tree. they look somewhat ominous up there. i just didn't provide it here for the story- maybe another day it'll appear.

sorry you didn't have your camera with you on that backroad. they sound HUGH. i usually don't have my camera with me either when i see a photo op. hope all is well.

December 21, 2009 12:08 AM

karen we only got an inch of wet, slushy snow here yesterday. it's almost melted away now. i can't believe we live so close and have such different weather patterns. have a great morning.

December 21, 2009 12:11 AM