The World Outside My Window

After a weekend that I describe as gorgeous, the weather has taken a decidedly nasty turn.  Wind.  Rain.  Wind and rain.  Rain and wind.  Windy rain.  Rainy wind.  You get the picture.

The truth is, I don’t mind.  I miss my walks along the bay, but I appreciate the coziness of home.  I’ve spent most of my week sitting in my chair by the window wearing a wool sweater, under a wool blanket with a hot cup of tea nearby and my laptop acting as a heating pad.  I have moved to the stage in my work when I am actually putting words on the screen, and I am gratified.  The work is slow (I’m easily distracted by my own research), but satisfying.

I have only left my building two times since Sunday.  On Monday I walked to the grocery store and discovered it was “October Holiday” an official public holiday.  I learned this because the grocery store opened late that day in honor of the holiday.  I bought a cup of coffee and waited for the store to open.  When I got home, my resolve to get right to work wavered--it WAS a holiday after all--and the activity in the harbor was fascinating.  In particular, I was interested in watching some professionals net sprat in the marina.  Apparently not everyone had the holiday off from work.  I literally pulled a chair to the window and watched the fascinating operation.

A large net was laid in the marina between the boats and left.  Pulling in the net is a multiple-boat activity.

The workers on the smaller boat guide the net

The workers on the larger boat pull the net in

They all work to pull the net tight up against the larger boat, keeping the sprat trapped inside

You can get an idea of the number of fish if you look carefully at the net under the water

The large boat drags the net full of sprat to solid ground where they are loaded, little by little, onto a big truck

I left the building yesterday afternoon with the intention of going for a walk.  I was struck (literally and symbolically) by the force of the wind and the feel of rain in the air, so I turned around and went back inside.  The rain started about an hour later.  After the rain ceased, an eerie light came in my window.  I looked outside and saw the following:

I posted the rainbow pictures on my Facebook page and this prompted comments about leprechauns and pots of gold.  I have decided to think of leprechauns and pots of gold metaphorically; this way I can believe in them.

Right now I’m looking out my window at a group of boys (I would guess they are about twelve) fishing and goofing off around the harbor and they are making me nervous.  The tide is coming in and the water is rough.  The wind is so fierce, I am worried they will be blown into the water. 

For two weeks the harbor has been lousy with otters.  Oscar and his friends have delighted me to no end.  Except, I suspect, there is an end.  I did not spot even one otter today.  I suppose this means the sprat have moved on.  Instead of dwelling in disappointment, I am going to wait in happy anticipation for what happens next outside my window…

Ahhh…  the wind has turned to rainy wind.  The boys, no dummies, have left the area, presumably for shelter.