Thawing out

Water streaming under the snow

We’re having a winter warm-up here in the Bogs today.  There is still plenty of snow and ice to be found, but you can hear the water rushing downhill under the snow and ice.

The pond is still cold and blue, the snow and ice slowly melting.

Water is bubbling out from the pond overflow pipe into the creek in the woods.

I could hear the water babbling long before I reached the woods while out on my walk today.  It’s the reason I went into the woods, perhaps not a wise choice during a thaw and with just enough snow cover to hide what’s underneath.  I slid my way down the hill, stumbled over a few downed tree branches, and fell a few times.  Not to worry, though.  I wasn’t injured.  The snow and my layers of clothing are good at cushioning any trips and falls.  Besides, I’m good at falling.  I do it a lot.

One of the reasons I took the risk of going down into the woods was to see the creek.  It’s always so beautiful back there after we’ve had a decent snowfall.  It’s one of my favorite places to visit during the winter months, and it is worth the effort, the stumbles, the slides, and the falls.  There is something magical about the creek in the winter.

A small mountain of snow

I like the shapes and texture of the snow when it starts to thaw.  It collapses a bit, sometimes molding around the mounds of grasses and other plants in the meadows.

Cross-country ski tracks

I stayed out for about two hours today.  It’s sunny and warm.  I know most people wouldn’t consider 34 degrees (F) warm, but after a few days of below freezing temperatures, 34 degrees feels downright balmy to me.

Oak leaf in a ski track

Yesterday I went cross-country skiing for the first time this season.  I didn’t last too long.  About 30 minutes.  And I was a little shaky, something to be expected the first time out.  I was pleasantly exhausted when I finished.

Bo

Bo and his people (M the Younger and Merdi) came for a visit yesterday, too.  Bo likes snow so much that he joyfully leaps and bounds around in it, every now and then planting his face deep down into the white stuff as if it’s the most wonderful thing on the whole planet and he can’t get enough of it.

It is a delight watching him play in the snow.

That’s it from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for visiting.  You’d better hurry on outside if you want to leap and bound in the snow.  It will be in the mid-40s tomorrow.  I doubt there will be much snow left after that.

Letting Go:  Of excuses.

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