Saturday scenery: the chill deepens

Ah, seasonal change. In California, even as daylight wanes, it's not so obvious the earth's tilt is pushing us through another cycle of hibernation and re-awakening. But here in New England, it's all too obvious.

The creatures are fattening themselves up for the long cold.

By dawn's early light, a squirrel chases the last crabapple on a high branch. Sixty-mile per hours wind gusts had shut down the island ferry system -- but they didn't deter the squirrel.

These look like ordinary mallard ducks to me, but they'll soon be joined in tough weather by sea ducks who winter on the island when the ocean becomes too icy.

Tomorrow morning, the time change will mean earlier morning light and earlier evening. My body has already made the change, before we get around to changing the clocks. Perhaps that's how I winterize.