A world sprinkled with glitter

Every so often, there's a moment that makes me appreciate even the things I've been complaining about. This morning's walk was one of those moments. It was cold, but I have a clothing system that works down to about zero, and it was 7 or 9 this morning, depending on where you look. It was snowing again, but most of the sidewalks had been shoveled after yesterday's snow, and not much had fallen yet, so walking was not difficult. It was still dark, but the streetlights shining on the fresh snowfall made everything sparkle.

I did just walk around the neighborhood, and then through the woods, but it was beautiful and quiet. Did not see any people, animals or traffic, just me and the dog in a glittery world.

Shopping is almost done and I only work until noon today. Days are getting longer and it will definitely be a White Christmas. Best of all the whole family will be together this evening.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Cold and snowy Minnesota

This morning I put boots on Bravo and walked just to the fire station and back. We had 2-3 inches of fresh snow, and it was -8, plus wind chill. (Yes, that's Fahrenheit.) Actually it didn't feel too bad except when I was facing in to the wind - because really only a small section around my eyes was exposed. Bravo was funny about the boots. When I put them on in the house, he acted like he couldn't walk in them. Then he just bounded around when he got outside.

Tomorrow it's supposed to snow again. Starting in the afternoon, which is when I leave for Wisconsin. I don't have a hotel yet - I'm going to wait and see how bad the weather looks and then decide how far I'll drive. Hopefully, it won't be too bad...

Walking through woods on a snowy evening*

It snowed yesterday. Right at rush hour. Took me over an hour to go 3 miles, just because people were all traveling at the same time, all going quite slowly, and all had only a few routes available to cross 494. After I got to Highwood, past the backup, everything moved freely and I went to pick up Chinese and get gas. I did not appreciate the snow last night.

This morning, when I walked the dog, the sidewalks hadn't been plowed. And those by 86th were in snowplow wake, making it even harder to walk. It was really slogging progress, and we didn't go very far before I was entirely too tired to go any further. I did not appreciate the snow this morning.

When I got home, there was the faintest sign of the setting sun still on the horizon, which encouraged me to get out and walk Bravo again. The sidewalks in our neighborhood were all shoveled, but I decided not to go up to 86th again, in case the city hadn't gotten to those yet. So I walked down to the nearby woods. There hadn't been much traffic, but the snow really wasn't very deep. Aside from the snowplow mounds at the entrance and exit of the path (where my foot sank in and I got snow in my boots since they weren't hard yet), it really wasn't bad walking.

In the woods, it was quiet and beautiful. And with a nearly full moon and all that fresh white snow, it was plenty light enough to do without my flashlight. Bravo and I enjoyed the night (sights for me, smells for him). I finally appreciated the snowfall.

*with apologies to Robert Frost.