Awake!

it seems early for the bears to be out of hibernation

but these certainly woke up and took a walk

~

I am thinking two different bears

They might have gone back to the den....

what do you think

black bear or grizzly?

~

*

Winter Morning

within the breath of winters frigid air
ice crystals grew among the lichens hairs

spruce needles adorned 

in icy charm

as the morning sun lit up the clouds

they circled like a crown at the tips of forest trees

bits of snow

sat like tiny icebergs

casting long shadows 

domes of snow

showing the beauty

 the grace of lines

 

looking up from the tiny world

a

grand view

~

*

So Much Snow!

in the past two days

snow fell from the sky

19 inches

much more snow is predicted

in the next day and a half: 20 to 34 inches

time will tell

in my woods 

I sink to my knees!

the little birds all fluffed up

seem fine

my pond has been frozen and snow cloaked since December 5th

usually 

it thaws and freezes 

on and off all winter

 

wahoo winter!

~ 

*

When the Sun Shines

Lake McDonald is large

(over 10 miles long & 1 mile wide)

this year it's surface is near frozen

(rarely happens)

being frozen

made for easy walking on it's surface

of course I stayed near the shore

morning surprise

an ice crystal world

 

 

this time they were kissed with sunlight

 

 

such a pretty winter day

 

~

*

 

Ice Crystals

got down to 4F/-15C last night

I woke to a milky gray day

no sunshine

a forest cloaked in ice crystals 

that look like fairy wings

I love how the lichen on the branch adds 

a bit of color

a wing of crystal

on each and every 

spruce needle

~

sometimes the magic of winter 

is in the tiny details

~

*

Snowflakes and Ice Crystals

gently resting

snowflakes

 

emerging

from the underground

 

winter garland

for the

Queen of the Fairies

behold 

forest treasures

crystals

lichen

and 

winter blue light

~

it has been a super cold winter

i believe we have had 6 deep cold spells with nights 

in the minus 17F to -28F

(-27C to -34C)

makes for clear blue skied mornings

(at times)

that freeze ones checks in mere moments

 

I think of it as a sincere winter

~

*

Walking on Water

on the first day of the year

we walked

on frozen water

this narrow canyon

is actually a creek

under this snow

is ice

and under the ice

is flowing water

we could hear it singing 

as it wandered downstream

our journey took us

to frozen waterfalls

with trees high above

the waterfalls had space to walk behind them

a bit magical to experience

water still flowed here and there

adding to the artful forms of ice

after shared snacks and drinks

we turned and wandered back

through the crevice

across another creek

up through a snowy forest

and 

to our cars

 

a wonderful way to begin 

2017

~

*

Goodnight and Farewell 2016

the last sunset of the year

a beautiful farewell

~

I wish you all

a new year full of inspiration,

 days and nights

that feel so good to you!

~

*