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Burrower’s Moon

pixabay free image, skeeze

pixabay free image, skeeze

In my fantasy world, the full face of the Burrower’s Moon heralds the coldest days of winter. Fronds of ice feather the windows, and the snow crunches and squeaks. Fire licks the sooty stones of the hearth while candles burn low. We sleep in our socks and drink tea to warm our bones.

Here in Oregon, the Burrower’s Moon lights the sky just after midnight, during the wee hours of January 24th. We haven’t any snow, but in my books, the white is deep and cold.

pixabay free image, stocksnap

pixabay free image, stocksnap

Excerpt from The Burrower’s Moon, Eye of Blind

Lying beside Gallard, Starling felt the tenderness she’d carried all day. She thought of the Endellion and the finality of terror they faced while she lay sheltered in a landscape beautiful in its rawness, her World full of possibility. She was struck by the contrast, starkly rendered for all to see if they would only look. A contrast pitting life against death, connection against separation, compassion against brutality, vision against blindness, caring against indifference. She could go on and on and on as if the differences were so absolute there remained not a scrap of common ground for them to reach across. Yet that was illusion; there existed no air at all between hunter and hunted and the wilderness they inhabited. That alone felt so terribly heartbreaking.

credit background: pixabay free image by carolinda

86 thoughts on “Burrower’s Moon”

  1. cmblackwood says:
    February 3, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Very powerful, especially with the perfect winter images. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. reocochran says:
    January 25, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    This is so beautifully expressed. I like how you name the moon “Burrowers” for all the groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks and possums. . . Humans, too, I imagine! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Ali Isaac says:
    January 25, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    Such beautiful writing. I really enjoyed that excerpt. Although I have to say, Burrowers Moon is one I haven’t heard of.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. joyindestructible says:
    January 25, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    Very beautiful and we had a “burrowers moon” last night in New Mexico. I’ve never heard that term before and I like it. We had a surprise snow storm yesterday, with huge goose-down flakes, that blew out in a rosy, sundown. The moon and stars were intense and gave a breath taking reveal of the new fallen snow. If I could, I would have gone out for a walk but instead, I gazed at it from my window. I’m sure I’ll be expounding upon it.:0)

    Liked by 1 person

  5. familyrulesbyplainjane says:
    January 24, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    I see you wrote it is mild and sunny there. I’m in the squeaky snow you describe right now. Bundled up and drinking my roasted barley tea as I catch up on my favorite blogs! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Ace Worldwide News Group says:
    January 24, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    Reblogged this on Ace Sales & Authors News.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Annika Perry says:
    January 24, 2016 at 7:47 am

    Diana, it’s always a joy to read the extracts from your books; lyrical and full of mysticism. Just like the new background to your blog – I love it. No snow for us either at the moment, rather a warm 13 degrees centigrade – yesterday the birds thought Spring had arrived!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Kate McClelland says:
    January 24, 2016 at 7:17 am

    Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Sacha Black says:
    January 24, 2016 at 6:46 am

    Barely a sprinkling here in the UK – actually I’m near London I think there has been in the north but nothing I suspect like the US. Lovely excerpt too 💖

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Julie Holmes, author says:
    January 24, 2016 at 5:39 am

    Great post, Diana! Every time I see the news reports about snow in the “south” (is KY really ‘the south’?), I can’t help but wonder how paralyzed (or NOT) we’d be here in MN. We’ve been lucky so far this year, with little snow. So glad the storm missed us!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. newvideos31 says:
    January 24, 2016 at 12:30 am

    Selam hello priviet merhaba gerçekten fantastik siteme beklerim lütfen beni ziyaret edin

    Liked by 1 person

  12. kimwrtr says:
    January 23, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    12 inches of snow here in the NC Mountains and still snowing or blowing off the top of the nearest mountain. It’s hard to know here in the valley (soup bowl) sometimes. It’s true movement is pretty much stopped here when there’s a lot of snow. Not only panic mode but also lack the resources that most northern states have. I prefer to hunker down in the house with a good book or writer work during this type of weather. What am I saying? That’s what I normally do on the weekends anyway.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. patriciaruthsusan says:
    January 23, 2016 at 6:01 am

    This piece takes me back to northeastern Ohio and those bone-chilling winters. I used to wait for the school bus outside and stamp the ground to keep my feet a bit warmer. Hope you’re keeping warm. My daughter in Brooklyn hadn’t seen the storm when I last texted her. My son in NC is probably in the middle of it there. People there panic when heavy snow comes as they don’t get it often. Good piece, Diana. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 23, 2016 at 6:26 am

      You made me smile, Suzanne. I lived in Vermont for a long time, so snow and ice was the norm for winter. Here is Oregon (Portland anyway) a 1/2″ of snow puts everyone in emergency lockdown. It’s total panic. I guess it’s just what you’re used to. 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Nurse Kelly says:
    January 23, 2016 at 5:55 am

    Lovely, delightful, magical – all you, Diana. Hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. teagan geneviene says:
    January 23, 2016 at 4:50 am

    D, this is such a lovely snippet. Well done!
    We have more than enough snow here in DC, and it’s still coming down.
    Enjoy beautiful Oregon. Mega hugs!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 23, 2016 at 6:21 am

      I’m a little jealous of your snow, Teagan, especially the first few falls of the year. Unceasing blizzards I could do without. I used to live in Vermont and don’t miss the shoveling at all. Stay warm and safe. Have a great weekend. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • teagan geneviene says:
        January 23, 2016 at 6:56 am

        Yeah… I just dug my way out of my back door (sometimes a big rear end comes handy — like shoving doors blocked by snow! 😀 ) so I could clean out around the heat/air unit and unblock the exhaust vents). I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do about digging my car out. My back has been abused far too many times over the years… Sorry — “thinking out loud.” Hugs.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. adeleulnais says:
    January 23, 2016 at 1:47 am

    Beautifully written and I loved the imagery. Thank you for posting.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Tina Frisco says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    You write beautifully…

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Bernadette says:
    January 22, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    Very intriguingly written. All the contrasts and then the last sentence destroying all the differences….

    Liked by 1 person

  19. anotherfoodieblogger says:
    January 22, 2016 at 2:49 pm

    I didn’t realize it was the newer windows that prevented the ice feathers. Our ancient RV windows still get them, though. Beautiful excerpt.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. hocuspocus13 says:
    January 22, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Reblogged this on hocuspocus13 and commented:
    jinxx⛄xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

  21. inesephoto says:
    January 22, 2016 at 11:49 am

    Beautiful! I can picture the ice feathers in my mind – haven’t seen them some twenty years!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Russell J. Fellows says:
    January 22, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Intriguing excerpt. The photos help set the tone.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Lynz Real Cooking says:
    January 22, 2016 at 11:15 am

    Loved the photos and your writing! Winter can be harsh but beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Judy Martin says:
    January 22, 2016 at 10:49 am

    This is lovely Diana. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Carrie Rubin says:
    January 22, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Lovely photos, lovely words. Happy weekend to you!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Deb says:
    January 22, 2016 at 8:49 am

    This is beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Julie says:
    January 22, 2016 at 8:42 am

    The burrowers moon– how lovely. Your well chosen words complement the branch full of birds so beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Diane Tibert says:
    January 22, 2016 at 8:00 am

    The grip of winter is here though sun shines upon us today. I grew up in a home where winter laid its “fronds of ice feathers” on the windows. We would scrap them with our nails, hold our thumbs against them to melt a hole to see the world outside.

    Thank you for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. noelleg44 says:
    January 22, 2016 at 6:04 am

    Beautifully written, Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  30. davidprosser says:
    January 22, 2016 at 5:05 am

    Your writing sings.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Windmills of My Mind says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:42 am

    Yes indeed. Snow, prestine, clear and welcomed.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Steven Baird says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:35 am

    Beautifully written, D.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. The V-Pub says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:32 am

    Your excerpt matched the context of your photo perfectly. Winter can be beautiful yet unforgiving.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Svegliati Cara says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:26 am

    Beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Sabiscuit says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:19 am

    These photos are so beautiful, Diana. I love those birds. So cute together on the branch, talking about fun times. xo

    Liked by 1 person

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