First big snowfall of the season

Getting ready to unlock winter

Winter has finally arrived here in the Bogs.  The snow has been falling and falling and falling throughout the night and morning.  It’s almost dizzying to watch the snowflakes whirling and twirling as they descend from the sky.

Early morning

I did not have the white balance set on tungsten for the Early Morning photo.  It was blue with cold and early morning light out there.

Three Trees in a Snow Squall. (Post-processed in Photoshop.)

It is midday as I work on this blog post, and the weather radio alarm just sounded.  We’re under a lake effect snow warning until 7pm.  No surprises there.  Sometimes the secondary snowbelt gets as much, if not more, snow than the primary snowbelt when bands of lake effect snow start traveling southwards.  The squalls stall and hang out with us for a while.

Watch your step

We have a goodly amount of snow now.  It was almost up to my knees in spots.  There is certainly enough to go cross-country skiing.  It’s too bad I’m not feeling up to it.  I don’t think I’d last more than ten minutes.

I considered dusting off my skis and practicing in the front yard for a little while, but just the thought of carrying the skis and boots up and out in addition to bundling up with, and carrying around the added weight of, layers of clothing was exhausting.  I had to rest for a while once I rid myself of such thoughts.  (Kidding.  I’m not that bad off.  In fact, I am feeling somewhat better today.  I took the last of the anti-viral pills early this morning.  Hopefully I’ll continue to improve from here on out.)

My boot tracks alongside the pond.

I did bundle up and go out for a little while.  I didn’t want to miss our first big snow event of the season completely.  It is bitterly, bitterly cold out there and getting colder as the day goes on.  Even with a pair of gloves on under my mitten-gloves, my fingers were painfully cold.

The sun makes an appearance in between the snow squalls, lighting up the ice forming on the pond.

I stayed out for as long as my fingers could stand it, which is to say until I couldn’t feel or push the buttons on my camera.  I think it was around this time last year that I had finally acclimated to the cold.  Winter is late this season.  I haven’t had the conditions needed to toughen up.

Bird bath, sun, shadows, and a snow squall.

Today is day 100 of my yoga challenge.  This morning I got back to some basics, feeling well enough to spend twenty minutes practicing with the AM Yoga For Your Week DVD.  I have been doing a few stretches and restorative poses (along with meditation) throughout this bout of shingles, but it felt good to push a little.  Not a lot.  Just a little.

Snow patterns on the pond.

For those who might be interested in how it’s going with a river of stones, I started posting them on Bountiful Healing (my other blog).  I was going to keep that news to myself.  I don’t have many followers over at Bountiful Healing.  I could shyly and quietly post away without much notice.  However, since I announced I was taking up the challenge on this blog, I thought I should let you know where you can find my small stones.

Snow splattered trees at the back of the pond.

And for those who aren’t interested in my words at all, here is the photo that went with today’s small stone (I’ll save you the trip over to the other blog):

Quietude

I guess that’s about it from the Bogs for today.  If you wear a size 8 shoe and would like to borrow my skis and boots for a little cross-country trip around Breezy Acres, you’re welcome to them.  Or bring your own skis, boots, or snowshoes.  Just make sure you bundle up.  The temperature is in the teens out there.  I’ll have some hot chocolate waiting to warm you up when you return to the house.

Letting Go:  Of illness, slowly but surely.

---