Agnes Obel provides the musical calm for this wintry post. After granting us a bit of a reprieve for November, Mother Nature has lobbed her first winter weather at us, and the wind and the chill bring January to mind. This music is indicative of that shift. Not wholly unwelcome, as we have to go through winter to get out of it. And winter holds its own enchantments if we can be brave enough to find and enjoy them.
The first snowfall seemed to come mostly at night, which feels a bit unfair to the kids who were waiting and watching. That was a favorite activity for my brother and me at this time of the year, and it would often be the first (and only) time we’d convince Dad to light the fireplace. Mom would make cups of hot chocolate, and as the first flakes of snow fell on the raw and tender ground, my brother and I would run around and celebrate the irrevocable coming of winter.
On this recent end-of-November morning, I stepped outside to take a few photos of the snow that had nestled in this juniper. The wind was brutal, and the sun did little to temper the cold. So the season begins…
Snow softens things in a way that almost nothing else can. It provides insulation to the gardens, creating a haven of consistent temperatures to stave off heaving and other dangers to the plants. We can’t be completely mad at it for that reason alone.
Even better, snow provides a reflective surface for light to double its effects, something we need as the shortest day of the year quickly approaches. The more light, the higher the spirits.
There is magic there too.
