One year closes and another opens, much like the sunset that closes out each day and the sunrise the starts the following day. Today marks the close of 2017 – a year filled with adventures, travels, and events that I truly couldn’t have envisioned or seen ahead to back on January 1st. And as I look forward to 2018, I see a horizon with brightness and color, new adventures and things that I can’t foresee right now. But I’m ready to step out through that sunrise and embrace all that lies ahead. Happy new year to all of you, and I hope you continue along with me in the new year.
landscapes
The Spirit of Christmas
Wherever this Christmas holiday finds you, whomever you’re with this Christmas, and however you choose to celebrate it – welcome the spirit, the joy, and the love that makes this season so very special. It is all around us. Merry Christmas!
Ice along the St. Croix River
Winter made its comeback this week with colder temperatures and snow. The St. Croix River, which creates the border between northern Wisconsin and Minnesota was showing the results of the weather change. Just last week the river was flowing freely, cascading southward to join up with the Mississippi River. This week was another story. The shoreline was filled with thin and uneven ice pushed up against the banks, yet the river flowed freely in the middle, carrying smaller sections of ice with the current. If the cold temperatures continue the river will freeze completely and will remain frozen until the warmer temps of spring.
A full moonrise reflection
The sun had just set, and the twilight was slowly diminishing. On the opposite shore of the lake, the full moon rose quietly. It gracefully cleared the trees and its light sent a column of brightness across the ice. The weather has been unusually warm so the ice was not solid and clear. The moon’s light showed the imperfections of the ice, along with the leaves that have been embedded during the colder nights. It was a beautiful study of light, patterns, hardness and softness.
A byway to come back to
We just returned from a quick trip to Salt Lake City. In addition to visiting family and enjoying Thanksgiving hospitality, we also hit the road for some sightseeing. After reading about the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, we headed out to see how far we could go. We had a wonderful brunch in Kamas and then left town on Utah State Route 150. The road follows the Provo River as it tumbles down through the Uinta Mountains, and although the weather was unseasonably warm in northern Utah, there has been snow in the higher elevations. We were only able to drive 15 miles, but we were not disappointed. The terrain is beautiful, and as the road climbed upward the landscape became white. The patterns of the trees with their light and dark, the snow and blue sky — it was all a delight for the eyes. And whenever we stopped en route, we could hear the river below as it moved over rocks and rapids. As much as we marveled at the area on this shortened trip, we know we will return to travel and explore the full distance of the byway.
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