We are seeing the start of our spring thaw. Warmer temps and bright sunshine have had a significant impact on our snow pack. Slowly we are seeing brown lawns reappear and some garden beds have small green shoots near the ground. The lakes have a much longer way to go before they are clear of ice. Gradually the ice near the shoreline goes out, but still the lake has a good 12 inches of ice. The snow on the surface has become mushy and uneven, and eventually will melt completely. The silence of winter is also giving way to the sounds of spring. When I walked out onto the lake I could actually hear the snow melting, and high overhead the Canada geese, the ducks, the swans, and the sandhill cranes were all calling and honking.
Wisconsin
Sunrise and ice
The dawn was cold and crisp. Although the temperatures have been above freezing during the day, they still dip into the teens and twenties at night. The multiple inches of snow on the lake have melted and frozen many days in a row, and what snow remains is only an inch or two deep on the lake. The sunrise was an explosion of color greeting the day, and some of those brights were reflected in a portion of snow-free ice on the lake. I am always energized after sharing in the beauty of a dawn like this.
Lines and patterns in the woods
It was sunny and warm yesterday – perfect conditions for snowshoeing. We headed off into the woods without a specific destination but rather to explore. The snow was still deep where is was sheltered from the full sunlight making our snowshoes a definite requirement for any navigation. There were numerous deer trails and turkey tracks throughout the woods. After awhile we came upon a small clearing that was more open to the sunlight. The shadows fell strong upon the snow, in undulating lines and patterns — a dynamic statement of the beauty of winter.
Winter forest
This morning was cold and windy. The sky was cloudy and the air was filled with fine sleet and tiny snow. Winter still has its grip, and we were on a drive exploring. The forests can be thick or thinned. In this one area was a wonderful stand of birch and aspen, with a few small oaks in their midst. The colors and contrasts caught my eye – white on white, gray on white, and brown and white. Certainly a limited color palate, but beautiful in its starkness.
A tale of two snowfalls
The dawn was cloudy and gray this morning. After the first light the snow started to fall; small and delicate, the flakes floated slowly to the ground. There wasn’t much wind, so their gracefulness was beautiful. Within a few hours the snow stopped and the clouds cleared. This was a direct contrast to the snowfall we had earlier in the week. With winds up to 40 mph and snow falling at over an inch per hour, those blizzard conditions were anything but quiet and peaceful. That snowfall accumulated to 10 inches; today’s was a light dusting.
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