It was a bitter cold day and evening but the sun had been shining and the blue sky had beckoned people outside. I was at Lake Como and there were walkers and runners following the path around the lake, there was one lone ice fisherman, and there were people who had laced up their skates and were gliding across the ice where the surface was smooth. It was a glorious time, and the sunset glowed in the ice surface and in the clouds above. For a few moments it was beautiful, and not quite as cold as we thought.
winter
A coating of snow on everything
Take a rainstorm that makes everything wet, drop the temperature so the rain changes to sleet, the sleet changes to ice, and then drop the temperature more and it snows. And the snow clings to everything – the branches, the oak leaves, the pine trees, the sedges. Our world became a winter wonderland with everything coated with white snow. It was stunning, and it was so easy to appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature in winter.
The momentary snowfall
Dawn broke early with a fresh white snowfall. The sun traveled upwards but the dark clouds to the east were moving in. They seemed to curtain off the sunlight and it streamed onto the snow-covered lake. With a sudden gust, the wind blew the resting snow off the tree branches and it cascaded to the ground, backlit by the sun. It was momentary and it was breath taking – all in a split second.
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.
Three opportunities to shovel snow
During the past week we have had three distinct snowfalls, each one giving us plenty of opportunity to be outside. Just as we start to grumble about winter we remind ourselves that we are exercising while shoveling, we are getting Vitamin D on those mornings when the sun is sparkling over the fresh blanket of snow, and we are seeing our neighbors more regularly as we are all outside clearing our sidewalks and drives. For some reason my snow shoveling seems to take longer than others. I’m stopping to see the soft drifts that are piling up, I’m watching the clouds start to dissipate as the sun burns through them, I’m marveling at the brightest of blue skies overhead, I’m hearing a call of a cardinal in between the sound of snow blowers, and I’m noticing how the snow has settled so lightly on some of the tree branches. All those details only enhance my appreciation of winter and its unique beauty.
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