Sunday, January 11, 2009

nature provides a blank slate

I've been back to work and we're already nearing halfway through January, but it still feels like the new year is just beginning. Our son just took off a couple hours ago to get on with his last semester of undergraduate education (and our final bills are pretty much history, hurrah!) With William thus gone, it feels like we're getting in order for the new year. Nature was kind enough to blanket us with a foot-deep coating of white, providing a sort of blank slate on which to commence.
Temps are forecast to go into the minus bracket at least one evening over the next few days. Definitely a setting for hunkering down, putting a log or two on the fire, pumping a little heat into this empty nest. Meanwhile, out in the back yard, it seemed like a fitting setting to leave the colors behind and just look out at the shades of black and white.
I'm still trying to put together a new year's resolution or two, but with it being eleven days into the year, it gets less likely that any formal program or plan will emerge. I have a couple things I'm working on, but it's all informal; no big lofty expectations.
For the immediate future, the goal will be to stay warm.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are those icicles on your tree and house and too? Brrrr. We've had the fire going all day and I just can't seem to get warm!

Ben said...

Those are weird icicles that formed on a grapevine that is under our roof where the melted snow must have fallen.
It IS cold but the sad news is we are in for an absolutely FRIGID week.

Minerva said...

That's nice study in black and white. I like the pine with all the snow.

...but you guys can keep your snow!

Ben said...

We'll keep it! We like it! (in moderation)

Jessica said...

I love that ice photo! I need to get outside and take some "winter" photos. We got a foot of snow too and more is on the way!

Jen said...

The snow and ice have missed us so far, but colder temps are in out forecast too.
Nice to look at in pictures.