Cold and Pretty

Six degrees of separation can make a real difference when we're talking temperatures. Actually, today, it's looking like seven degrees with the high forecast at 20 and the low 13.

We actually have a few more degrees of separation in day and night-time temps scheduled for the next several days, but the one I find most interesting offers a whopping 20 degrees difference---that's the day when we'll have a high of 14 and a low of minus 6.  

So, to say, "Baby, it's cold outside" is gonna get redundant before it goes away.  

This morning's cold brought along with it hundreds of thousands of glistening diamonds, clearly seen across snow-covered fields thanks to that great big full moon.  

Twas mighty pretty out as I walked to the barn, and, happily, I didn't have to complain while doing chores cuz the barn door actually opened fairly easily. 

Of course, the trench I keep chipping away beneath the door, any time I get a chance during the day time,  probably helps. 

As our temperatures dip, a whole new array of loveliness arises in the form of crystal-like coatings on otherwise ugly, often hated plants.  Folks around here don't find weeds like tansey to be among the favorites, especially during the growing season.

When those still upright heads of golden buds die, though, during the cold of winter, their frozen, artsy coatings create an exquisite sight, as is true with so many shoots and stems rising from the snow. 

When dogs played in the field yesterday, I walked around and played with my little camera, experimenting with some of the creative settings.  Some photos were total flops, while others turned out kinda neat. 

Later, I left the dogs home (doesn't take long for their little pads to get cold) and visited the place where our family and, yes, dogs have spent hot summer days playing in the waters of Lake Pend Oreille.  It's a Fish and Game area along Sunnyside Road. 

Had the whole place to myself and appreciated whoever the other two humans who had come earlier in the day, breaking trail for me to enjoy a fairly easy walk through the woods and out into open areas with wonderful lake views. 

I spent about 45 minutes enjoying the views and thinking about the nice times spent there in the past. 

Both going and coming from Sunnyside, I stopped to take pictures of charming critters doing what critters do on a cold winter day, eating and trying to stay warm. 

No partridges in pear trees but certainly some proud turkeys feasting on leftover apples. And, it seems that every time I drive past the Lippert place on a winter day, at least one mule is at rest right in the middle of the dinner table.  The others don't seem to mind, though. 

There's work to staying warm on these cold, clear winter days, but the rewards in the form of jaw-dropping beauty more than make up for the labor. 

Happy Wednesday. Stay warm.