Yesterday a lot of the beach was accessible, but I couldn't walk more than half way the length. Today I could walk the entire length of the beach. The river is dropping and dropping and it will continue to do so until we get significant rain. It was so warm, a light jacket was fine. And it was sunny. What a very strange January this is. Still no rain in the forecast, so I expect a summer river again by the middle of the week, i.e., clear instead of muddy. For the long run, this is not a good thing---we need a certain amount of rain---but in the short run the dogs and I are enjoying every minute of this beautiful weather. After a hearty snack, they're napping and all is peaceful. Lucky us!

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I have to admit I have a soft spot for squirrels, but they do eat too much bird seed from my feeders. So I bought a squirrel-proof feeder. That long white object to the right of the bird feeder is my resident squirrel dangling upside down, belly to the camera, happily engaging in gymnastics to get at the bird seed.

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I've lived at the river for many years and it's still unfathomable how quickly the river goes up with some rain and goes down with a few days without rain. A few days ago, there was no beach, no gravel bar, just fast-moving coffee-colored water. Today there's a bit of beach and lots of gravel bar, plenty of room to walk and let the dogs play and swim. And the tethered blue kayak that was under water Monday is now beached and right-side up full of water. Wonder who its owner is and whether it will survive the winter. Problem is it's chained so only the owner can rescue it--if the lock hasn't rusted shut.

The canoe and rowboat that were pulled up higher are still there, but another big storm and they will be gone. Every boat should have a telephone number in marine marker so those of us who roam the winter beaches can let the owners know they need to rescue their boats or lose them.

Disturbed an osprey in a tree just a few yards away from the path I was walking. Always a thrill to see them. They are magnificent birds and there's always a treetop for perching.

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Four inches of rain over the weekend after 35 days of drought---quite a dramatic transition to the winter. And yet the skies are partly blue at 9 a.m. Monday and the weather forecast for this week is all dry and sunny. Let's see if the beaches re-emerge. The dogs get very antsy without their beaches and so do I. But I'll use the reprieve to drag a bunch of firewood up to the house; there's nothing like a cheery fire on a rainy night to warm the soul.

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Our winter river has arrived in the space of 24 hours. Dozens of ducks riding the currents and skittering back upstream. Most of the beach is under water and the river is the color of cafe au lait. One lone kayak, tethered and floating upside down, no longer on the beach. But the sun is shining and the dogs and I managed to find enough beach still above water for a good run.

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