Dawn patrol

I was up early this morning—almost as early as Dean Peters—and saw things I often miss.  There was an almost-full moon last night, and just before dawn it was sliding down toward the Bay in a misty haze, looking quite beautiful. 

I got distracted (there’s a surprise) and didn’t see it set.  By the time the dogs and I were out walking on the beach it was full dawn and the moon had disappeared behind the cloudbank.  It was every bit as cold as it looks, and dead quiet. 

Snow drifts across the bluff.  The Bay is freezing over, piling a jumble of ice along the shore.  But on the beach, between the ice piles and the bluff, lie sandy-bottomed pools of water rimmed with snow.  I cannot imagine why these shallow pools are not frozen solid.  My fingers are frozen solid, and it’s time to go inside and read the Record-Eagle Dean Peters delivered as the moon set.