First Day of Winter

That phrase sometimes makes those of us in Minnesota giggle at the absurdity of Winter actually waiting until the 22nd of December to arrive... yeah, we're firmly in Winter's grip by then around here. However, this year, the weather conspired to give a touch of recognition to the date regardless of having had permanent snow on the ground for weeks already. It warmed up on the 20th to the balmy realm of the 40's and when the storm front came through on the 21st, it was only just starting to cool down again. That made for an almost rain-like very heavy snow overnight.

Morning on the "first day of winter" dawned with every tree coated with a thick layer of white insulation outlining each twig and branch with white against the sky. By afternoon, the clouds were breaking up enough to make interesting games of light playing off the sparkling snow. I simply couldn't resist taking a break in the middle of my Christmas preparations to run out to a local park and take some pictures. Nothing has lifted my spirits more this Christmas. It really reminded me of poetry:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963), Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening