Sunrise

First, the sunrise:

Next, the morning Belt of Venus:

Because of the configuration of the valley and western ridge, my location is not well suited to viewing the morning Belt of Venus. This is the first time I’ve seen it from my house. Of course, this meant that my camera batteries decided to die at just that very time, so I only got one very bad shot of it. By the time I’d gone inside and found a fresh set, a cloud bank (barely visible along the horizon) had crept up and obscured everything.

One of the things I enjoy about having a dog is that she forces me to get up in the mornings. I could have slept in, but I would’ve missed a lovely sunrise. Instead, I was outside playing with Harriet at the crack of dawn.

There are dozens of small signs that spring is on the way. It started in earnest a few weeks ago, with the return of the geese. I watched another flock fly overhead this morning. The birds’ songs have taken on a less urgent tone, as well. From the increase in numbers of birdsongs, it’s clear that the geese aren’t the only ones who are returning. And then there’s the sun. The days are lengthening, but the change in the sun’s location is probably the most dramatic indication that spring is here. At mid-winter, the sun rises within a dip in the eastern ridge. Now, it’s moved northward, rising over Farmer Brown’s house.

All that, I might’ve missed, if it weren’t for having a dog.