Happy Winter Solstice 2013!

Not sure how your winter has been going, and I know it's just the start of winter with the Winter Solstice, but it seems like we've had a month of winter already.  Been feeling more like January
'round here.  For weeks we've been down in the single digits and low teens.  With the snow and slick roads,   I've had my share of double-hour one-way commutes to work and back.... am I complaining?  Sorry.  Well, the other day, there had been freezing rain from about midnight to 5am.  I got up and thought I'd better go shovel the slush before it froze into inches of ice.  So I shoveled mine, my Dad's, then there is a particularly long sidewalk that boarders my Dad's field that leads up to the Jr. High (guess I'm volunteered to do it... and I love it when the snowplows blast all the road's snow up onto the sidewalk).  When I got done with that, it started to snow.  Now we've got ice covered with snow. I listened to the radio traffic reports to see how the commute was going.  Thought it would lighten up if I waited, but it kept getting worse.... so I took the day.  Why wouldn't I?  Since I had a little time on my hands (after I went back out and re-shoveled and used the snow blower on what I had done earlier... then I chopped wood for the fire, had lunch with my dad, cleaned the house, etc, etc), I went out and took a few pix- everything looked so wintery....?  Ice-covered everything- just couldn't pass up the chance to make a couple of my own Currier and Ives (I had been looking for some nice winter backgrounds for my computer and couldn't find ones I wanted- thought I'd make my own).  Hope you enjoy.

Also, thankfully with this storm, it has cleaned out the stinky inversion air so I can go out and run again... and not only that, so I can add to the pollution again with a lovely wood fire.  Nothing quite like a wonderful crackling blaze with Johnny Mathis Christmas playing in the background.  Mmmmmm mmm! I don't get much work done with that that combination! ;) ... what? (makes me want to cook some figgy pudding or bake cookies, you know).

I am very thankful for the snow and moisture we're getting- it is badly needed for when the days get warm and long.  Speaking of long, the days will start getting longer now- sweet!  Welcome back Mr. Sun!