January Rains

When it rains in January in Minnesota there can be problems. As yesterday when it arrived in the late afternoon as freezing drizzle that quickly glazed roads and sidewalks and encased stems and branches. When I went outside to assess the situation, I slid down the incline of our driveway like a curling stone. It was dangerous to walk. And even more dangerous to drive.

That freezing rain turned to wet snow overnight and we woke to immaculate winter scenery and cancelled schools (due to the ice underneath the snow). After shoveling snow/slush/ice, I decided to take a late afternoon hike in the rain.

Happily today's rain was nothing more than a fine mist. With the temperature above freezing it caused no trouble whatsoever. The woods, nearly soundproof already due to several inches of soft, melting snow, were muffled even further by the mist dampening and saturating the calm air.

White-tailed Deer moved quietly about the woods, unconcerned at my presence. The moss on rocks and tree trunks seemed especially vibrant, flush with new moisture and warmer temps; beneath diffuse and darkening skies the mosses almost glowed.

Posted on January 18, 2017 04:51 AM by