WINTER IS HERE!

I forgot how it feels to trudge through seven inches of fresh snow.  Guess it's been a while and I'm getting older as I find myself waddling slowly through the woods with my winter boots and snow pants on this afternoon, the third to the last day of December.

Today is the day after the first real snow storm of the season, and I think our woods needs a visit.  I make my way along the trail to Tom's Creek and then over to the northwest passage where I plunk myself down under an old red oak tree near the edge of the tamaracks and pull out my journal and pencil, with camera on call.

The most striking thing that I notice while sitting here is the sheer calmness that accompanies this new blanket of pure white snow resting on the ground and the evergreen trees.  A few tiny snow flurries land on my coat and amaze me with their intricacies, but the storm has been over for several hours.

I spotted one set of fresh deer tracks and one place where a squirrel had been scratching for acorns in the snow on my way to the creek, but this is undoubtedly a day when most critters are yet bracing themselves for an adventure in the new fallen snow.

Three partridges take flight as I frighten them from nearby spruce trees while I make my way back home toward the cabin.  I look forward to the day when I can capture an elusive partridge on camera.

Bits of blue sky reveal themselves above the thin layer of gray December clouds.  If all goes as planned, there will be a beautiful sunset this evening, at least that's my plan... and I'll be ready for it.

 Although the whole sky didn't light up, I wasn't disappointed this evening with the sunset, a nice way to end a winter's day!

Happy New Year Everyone!