Winterfest

I woke up this morning to 4-5 inches of snow and it continued to snow for several more hours after I got up. When it was all over we had a total of about six inches on the ground. It was a slow morning at work. The office seemed like a ghost town. I had no trouble getting to work once I got on the main roads. As usual, my neighborhood street wasn't plowed and looking out my window I could have been in Siberia. Pictured above is a typical scene in Kentucky today. In the afternoon I ventured outside for a walk around the park behind my office building. It was considerably colder than earlier in the morning. There was also a gusty wind that increased the wind chill. We were definitely having a winter day. This season has been a real winter with colder temperatures and more frequent snow. Most years Kentucky winters are generally mild and rarely brutal. Lots of people hate winter and long for spring and summer days. My least favorite time is summer with it's high humidity and, at times, oppressive heat. Sometimes winter can be dreary and seem little more than endless overcast days and cold rain. On a day like today, however, the landscape is full of beauty and I find the cold refreshing and invigorating. All in all, I am happy to live in a part of the world where I can experience all four seasons. Last week the ground hog didn't see his shadow so we still have six weeks or so with the potential for more snow. I think snow is magical and I love when it silently falls from the sky, slows life down, and covers the trees, bushes, evergreens, and ground. A really special treat is to see a bright red Cardinal sitting on a branch. The deep red feathers are a striking contrast to the all white background of nature. Each season has it's beauty and winter beauty is one of my favorites. I will enjoy it while I can until the spring flowers begin to bloom.