splinters of light

The temperature at our house on Friday morning was 16 below. I went to the morning meditation anyway, and coming out of Steve's office afterwards, the sun was shining brightly. As I walked over to my car, I noticed these small particles of ice floating about in the cold air. They were so small that the only time you could actually see them was when sunlight reflected off of them, little splinters of light. When I drove home in the evening, I saw a sun pillar off to the west. Sun pillars are caused by sunlight reflecting off ice crystals in the atmosphere. There's a lot of that going around.

snow

On Saturday morning I saw a van pulling a snowmobile trailer in West Rutland. On the one hand, this has been a cold and snowy winter, and I'm getting a little tired of it. On the other hand, this winter season has produced some of the most and best snow I can remember in a long time. There are lots of people reveling in it I'm sure. Pete Esslinger runs a snowmobile business, and is one of the nicest people I know. I'm happy for him. The ski resorts must be doing very well which is good for our region.
Earlier in the winter I remember reading about the animals who rely on snow cover for their very survival. When the snow pack went away back in December, I remember seeing their pathways in what little snow was left, and wondering how they were doing. I'm sure they are happy and warm in the abundant and fluffy snow we are currently experiencing.

flowers

Ellen got Allyn some paperwhite bulbs for Christmas. They are doing very well. Saw a woman buying some tulips in the market the other day. You need some flowers this time of year.

looming

Snowbanks growing along Kahle road. Icicles looming at work. Sand and gravel being spread in parking lots in town. They sweep it up again in the spring.

Hoo hoo hoo

The full moon, the "Snow" moon shining brightly last night. Getting up early recently to shovel out the driveway, sound of an owl.

For sounds in winter nights, and often in winter days, I heard the forlorn but melodious note of a hooting owl indefinitely far; such a sound as the frozen earth would yield if struck with a suitable plectrum. I seldom opened my door in a winter evening without hearing it; Hoo hoo hoo, hooer hoo.
Walden
Henry David Thoreau

blizzard conditions

Yesterday we had inventory at work, and I had to go in early. It was dark, and the snowstorm was ongoing. Rutland seemed like some sort of Arctic frontier. I drove home from work later than usual, and the conditions were the same, dark with wind and snow, blizzard conditions. It reminded me of a time many years ago when I pulled into Newport, Vermont late at night at this time of year. It was a dark and desolate time with the feeling of being on the borderlands of the civilized world.

Candlemas Day

Snowing on February 2nd, Groundhog Day, also Candlemas day. "Half your wood & half your hay should still be left on Candlemas Day." How you doin' Doug?

Every man looks at his wood-pile with a kind of affection.
Walden
Henry David Thoreau