In the midst of a quick January thaw, the St. Paul Winter Carnival began this past week.  Temperatures of 40+ degrees do not equate to an expected Minnesota winter.  Both snow and ice were melting and people were shedding multiple layers.  But an Alberta Clipper brought a return to temps below freezing last night.  The snow sculptures at the fairgrounds were all intact today, and the blue sky and sunshine brought people out to participate in winter play.  A snow slide had a long line of people, both children and adults, waiting to take a run; the snow maze was the right size for a child to get confused but the adults towered over it; and a simple large mound of snow was a wonderful temptation for kids to scramble and climb up.  This snow sculpture was titled “Baby Bunyan,” with a reference to Paul Bunyan as a child.  Our celebration of winter will continue for the next few months, until we are able to relish in the short season of spring and melting snow.