Nature Note #162: Greetings from Marcellus
The sun is slowly rising over the nearby hills before I leave for work. Outside on the street, cars drive by regularly, but with little fanfare. In the spruces by our new apartment window, starlings jeer and chatter, while a squirrel hops towards a leafless tree, seeking shelter in its branches.
As of this weekend, Alison and I will have been in our new apartment in Marcellus for about three weeks and we are loving every minute of it. The most noticeable feature of this small town is how quiet it is. Such quiet is palpable and greatly welcomed and calms our souls from the bustle and anarchy present along James Street.
Clearly, we are well suited to the quiet small town life we were accustomed to back home in Massachusetts. Instead of hearing the wail of sirens and muffled arguments of neighbors, we now hear the gentle hum of a town clearly content with a comforting touch and small scale commerce. On weekends, the church bells ring at noon and six o' clock, while people walk and jog on well maintained sidewalks.
Even on the rainy days, the town hums with a good vibe that always seems to permeate my impression of what small town America feels like. Small shops line Main Street with small roads snaking into the lawns of nearby homes while solitary oaks, ginkgo, and maple shade them from above. Since we now reside in a valley, it feels (at least to myself) like a small Welsh village between the Brecon Beacons. Instead of the worn stone and brick of most British homes, most homes in the northeast are composed largely of lumber and particle board and while they aren't as characterful as those houses of the old country, they still reside in lovely countryside.
The countryside is perhaps the best part about living in Marcellus. Farm fields stand freshly tilled while dandelions and other wild flowers dance along the protected borders. The telephone wires provide ample lookouts for the bird life as well and on the twice daily shuffle to and from work, crows and blackbirds rest and survey their country domains. Occasionally, kestrels can be seen as well as they take a break from hovering over those same fields, ever vigilant for the chance to snag a mouse or vole along the grassy road banks.
As we continue to settle into this lovely little New York town, dispatches will occur on the weekly basis with updates on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The next post will focus on our nearest and newest (relatively speaking) non human neighbours, the starlings.
Happy trails everyone!
As of this weekend, Alison and I will have been in our new apartment in Marcellus for about three weeks and we are loving every minute of it. The most noticeable feature of this small town is how quiet it is. Such quiet is palpable and greatly welcomed and calms our souls from the bustle and anarchy present along James Street.
Clearly, we are well suited to the quiet small town life we were accustomed to back home in Massachusetts. Instead of hearing the wail of sirens and muffled arguments of neighbors, we now hear the gentle hum of a town clearly content with a comforting touch and small scale commerce. On weekends, the church bells ring at noon and six o' clock, while people walk and jog on well maintained sidewalks.
Even on the rainy days, the town hums with a good vibe that always seems to permeate my impression of what small town America feels like. Small shops line Main Street with small roads snaking into the lawns of nearby homes while solitary oaks, ginkgo, and maple shade them from above. Since we now reside in a valley, it feels (at least to myself) like a small Welsh village between the Brecon Beacons. Instead of the worn stone and brick of most British homes, most homes in the northeast are composed largely of lumber and particle board and while they aren't as characterful as those houses of the old country, they still reside in lovely countryside.
The countryside is perhaps the best part about living in Marcellus. Farm fields stand freshly tilled while dandelions and other wild flowers dance along the protected borders. The telephone wires provide ample lookouts for the bird life as well and on the twice daily shuffle to and from work, crows and blackbirds rest and survey their country domains. Occasionally, kestrels can be seen as well as they take a break from hovering over those same fields, ever vigilant for the chance to snag a mouse or vole along the grassy road banks.
As we continue to settle into this lovely little New York town, dispatches will occur on the weekly basis with updates on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The next post will focus on our nearest and newest (relatively speaking) non human neighbours, the starlings.
Happy trails everyone!
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