January 20, 2012

Ice



Mid-January, mid-winter: the season of snow and ice. Snow brings happy thoughts for us northern dwellers; it means snow shoeing and skiing and snowmobiling. It brightens indoor light as sun reflects from its white surface. Ice is another matter: it is treacherous for walking and driving, causing many a fall and automobile accident. But it can also be very beautiful, as when a glittering mass surrounds the stems of honeysuckle...


                          


or when the freezing overnight temperatures leave a complex pattern on a window, which catches the glow of early sun....




as do the icicles flowing from the roof, pushed from their vertical fall by the strong west winds.




Even on my car, whose windshield I have to clear of ice, there is a beautiful gathering of ice crystals, which have captured a seed blown from the woods.



Driving on icy roads is dangerous, but this glistening relief sculpture of tire tracks is a small thing of beauty.

3 comments:

  1. So true, winter ice is beautiful - as long as you don't have to leave the house!

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  2. Altoon, thanks for reminding me of the beauty of ice. Unfortunately, I can't leave my place right now because of it...you can check my latest blog post for details on why I am housebound due to ice :(

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  3. Luckily I don't have to go out when the weather is bad. And I'm so sorry to hear about your ice injury, Julie. It's a season when we have to be so careful out of doors.

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