Stacey Cole's Nature Talks: Nothing so rare as a day in October. Reader’s note: My dad, who passed away last month, sent me a Stacey Cole Nature Talks column called “Nothing So Rare as a Day in October” a few years ago. I read the part of the column about October, which was attributed to Anne Somero, at my dad’s memorial service on Sept. Today in History October 3 1739 Russia signs a treaty with the Turks, ending a three-year conflict between the two countries. 1776 Congress borrows five million. On-This-Day.com: Daily historical facts and events, famous birthdays, celebrity birthdays, u.s. A Day In October Trailer 1992 Director: Kenneth Madsen Starring: D.B. Sweeney, Tovah Feldshuh, Kelly Wolf,,, Official Content From Academy Entertainment. October 1, 1979 - After 70 years. 1863 - President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. The Media Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology chronicled the World Wide Web in its A Day in the Life of Cyberspace project. Sandy Cobb. Editor’s note: The following column, requested by the reader listed above, was originally printed in the New Hampshire Union Leader on Saturday, Nov. ALTHOUGH THE wily winds of November are about to blow, October is the subject of another delightful letter from our longtime reader friend, Anne Somero of New Ipswich. Looking back over a great number of years, Anne has contributed several enchanting letters to this column. I am pleased to share her latest letter. Anne Somero wrote: “What is so rare as a day in June,’ said the old poet, for he did not live in New England where we will say, . When the eastern horizon is edged in pink. When the sun pushes up over Whitemore Hill. The mist hangs over the river where the geese are talking amicably to each other — quiet morning talk, planning a day on the wing.“The grass is frosty. Smoke curls up, lazy, from the chimneys. I can smell the wood smoke, and the damp, and the old leaves. I see where the deer have been under the apple trees during the night. The apple crop has been amazing this year.“By mid- morning the sun has warmed things up. The sky is pure, October blue. The trees have come full circle, all bright they are, and showy in colors of fall. The fallen leaves lie in drifts and windrows that crunch and swoosh when I walk through them. If you go out early enough when the morning is still and quiet, you can hear them falling. They fall like raindrops, patter, patter. Falling leaves whispering goodbye to summer on their way down. Go stand outside in the cold stillness and listen. You’ll be surprised at what you hear.“Now I can see the little birds’ nests in the hedge rows. Such intricate, fragile little works of art and architecture.“The tiny yellow leaves on the roadside shrubs shimmer and gleam in the sunlight. They quiver and shake in the least little breeze, a golden October dance.“The warmth doesn’t stay long, nor the daylight. Dusk comes early, the lights come twinkling on the houses across the valley. The steady thunk, thunk from up at the woodpile ceases. The woodsman is heading home for supper.“The moon comes up, that bright and brazen October moon, chasing up shadows and brightening up the foliage with mysterious moonshine.“A Vee of geese fly by the moon, straight and fast, their lonely, lovely calls filling the night. Then, just as quickly, fade into silence. Our mission with 'Four Days In October' was to capture the symbolic essence of the Boston Red Sox unprecedented 2004 ALCS comeback victory. See the October photo a day challenge list and play along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Flickr. Use the hashtag #FMSphotoaday #photoadayoct. They go just like this October day which has somehow faded into night. They go like October does which somehow has faded into November.“Yes, what is so rare then, as a day in October?”- - - - - A Portsmouth reader inquired: “The bundle of leaves, etc., in tops of trees that are showing up now — are they squirrels’ nests (gray)? And is it only used in summer? Where do they go in winter?”Our reader’s assumptions are basically correct. Gray squirrels build the leaf- twig nests that show up when the foliage has left hardwood trees. If a squirrel cannot find a suitable woodpecker hole or a cavity in a standing tree, they will build a leaf nest. Squirrels seem to prefer these nests in summer, but if a more weather- secure nest cannot be found, these leaf nests are used the year around. Occasionally, one squirrel will build as many as six leaf nests. If a nest becomes threatened by a predator, squirrels quickly carry their young by mouth to another location, one already prepared. Occasionally, a squirrel will select a large bird house to nest in if the entrance hole can be chewed large enough for passage. For anyone who would like to build a squirrel house the Bird Watcher’s Digest booklet, “Enjoying Squirrels More (or less!)” recommends it be built “1. October This Day In History Famine in Soviet Union 1921 Germany tells the world the conquest of the Soviet Union is complete only mopping up operation needed 1941. On October 22nd, volunteers from across the country will unite for Make A Difference Day, one of the largest annual single-days of service nationwide. The entrance hole, often 3’ square, should be in the uppermost corner of the box nearest the tree trunk. An overhanging, sloped roof will protect occupants from the weather. Boxes should be securely mounted high in a tree.”Stacey Cole, Nature Talks columnist for more than 5. If readers have a favorite column written by Stacey that they would like to see reprinted, please drop a note to Jen Lord at jlord@unionleader.
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January 2017
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