Bitter cold out today. It is -11 for you non-USians. We persist, in the face of logic, in calling it 13.
I was wearing my Bob's Burgers hat and warm coat. (The Bob's Burgers hat is pink with rabbit ears. You can probably see it online if you look.)
Hazel had to wear her coat too. She was rewarded with a piece of sausage because we had to pick up her feet.
We went out, and to the park across the street. It is the kind of cold that makes everything clear. You can see for miles. I can see Bayonne and Hoboken, across the water. Almost nobody out. And as I stood there shivering, a formation of pigeons went by. When I see them on the sidewalk I forget, but they are serious birds. Some people speak of them as if they are debased creatures-- people speak of rats the same way. But I think of what my mom used to say about animals like that. 'They are doing God's work.'
The pigeons form up, in the morning, and fly in schools like fish. 30, 40, at a time. Each one holds position, and at some unseen signal they all bank, and swoop back the other way. There is no reason for it, that I can see. They don't hunt from the air. They are not going anywhere. They do it for joy, it seems. I would too, if I could. They were so close over me that I could hear the bristly sound of their feathers. And they are lovely, as the light changes on their feathers. They are blue, and black, and all kinds of grey. They are so clean and free.
Hazel payed them no attention, of course. She capered around, and did her thing, and kicked up behind to clear away there. (Like Kit Smarts Jeoffrey,) and then we went in.
Just a moment of awe, along with bunny hats and sausage.
I was wearing my Bob's Burgers hat and warm coat. (The Bob's Burgers hat is pink with rabbit ears. You can probably see it online if you look.)
Hazel had to wear her coat too. She was rewarded with a piece of sausage because we had to pick up her feet.
We went out, and to the park across the street. It is the kind of cold that makes everything clear. You can see for miles. I can see Bayonne and Hoboken, across the water. Almost nobody out. And as I stood there shivering, a formation of pigeons went by. When I see them on the sidewalk I forget, but they are serious birds. Some people speak of them as if they are debased creatures-- people speak of rats the same way. But I think of what my mom used to say about animals like that. 'They are doing God's work.'
The pigeons form up, in the morning, and fly in schools like fish. 30, 40, at a time. Each one holds position, and at some unseen signal they all bank, and swoop back the other way. There is no reason for it, that I can see. They don't hunt from the air. They are not going anywhere. They do it for joy, it seems. I would too, if I could. They were so close over me that I could hear the bristly sound of their feathers. And they are lovely, as the light changes on their feathers. They are blue, and black, and all kinds of grey. They are so clean and free.
Hazel payed them no attention, of course. She capered around, and did her thing, and kicked up behind to clear away there. (Like Kit Smarts Jeoffrey,) and then we went in.
Just a moment of awe, along with bunny hats and sausage.
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Each one holds position, and at some unseen signal they all bank, and swoop back the other way.
I love seeing flocks of pigeons. You still see flight sof homing pigeons here sometimes. They're beautiful.
I can just imagine Hazel in the park with her smart warm coat :)
you have a BAyonne across the water from you ? the French town is where JAcques Bergeret was born- only connect !
they play rugby - and there is a quai de l'amiral bergeret which appears to have good restaurants - so one day ....
Wonder if Archie was marched through it?
I had Archie marched through Bayonne in Flotsam, though I only mentioned it by name. By that stage I suspect he neither knew now cared where he was :/
I often see the pigeons doing the courtship thing. They are much like chickens. The man bird will find something to eat, and he sings a sort of crooning song, and calls the female over. She eats, and he stands nearby with his neck all puffed up. Then he does a dance where he spins in circles, singing. She looks unimpressed.
I can so imagine little dinosaurs doing that. There must have been some that were that small, and ate small bugs back then. I can just imagine a feathered young lady dinosaur, looking unimpressed!