Fading

Winter is slowly losing it's grip, inch by inch, one ice crystal at a time. The almost-full ice sheet covering the creek is melting away. The ducks and geese are now enjoying much more swimming room. Sunlit areas either have a mere veneer of ice or are free water. The shaded areas are becoming slush and what my dad used to call "rubber ice", not fully frozen. I don't think one of the pintail ducks could even walk across it.

Granted, it's all part of the Wheel of the Year, and the Callieach must soon transform into the Maiden, but I will say that I will miss the beauty of the ice and snow (just not the bitter cold that accompanies it). The wind-blown ripples across the ice surface, sunlight glinting off them as it peeks through grey winter clouds. The pristine fresh fallen snow before human or animal has left a single track. The peaceful quiet during a snowfall, curtailing even the bustling city noise.

Yet, soon, the days will warm even more, new growth will be seen on the trees, the earth will aawken from her slumber, the wheel will continue it's turning...

Icicles and Druids...

As our snowfall gradually melts off, sending it's well needed moisture back to the Mother, and our nights stay frigidly cold, icicles have formed in some of the shaded areas of buildings. Some of these crystalline wonders are right outside the back door of my work, where I do my morning practices. I attempted to get pictures with my phone's camera, but alas they were too dark to be visible.

I've had the distinct pleasure over the past few days to see them form, grow, and change. The melt on the roof through the day and into the evening has never left them the same from day to day. Some have clarified to crystalline perfection, rivaling the most perfect diamond. Others have occlusions from errant matter being frozen within them, adding unique dimensions on how the light plays on and within them. One has been steadfast and grown every day, causing it to be almost as thick as a broom handle and nearly a foot and a half long. Some grow in the evenings and then recede to almost nothing by the next afternoon. A few have already disappeared completely. A most unique one has forked about two thirds of the way down, it's offshoot at an almost physically impossible looking angle. One has shattered near the roof edge and is gradually building itself back up. Smooth surfaces, wavy, twisted, jagged. Blunt tips, needle-fine tips, straight down or skewed at an angle. Straight columns or almost free-form sculpts.

No two are even close to identical. Why? They've all been subjected to nearly identical climate, temperature, wind, the flow of snow-melt. They're all merely water being held at the freezing point with a few bits of errant mater mixed in. Naught more than frozen water, hydrogen and oxygen molecules aligned in a crystalline structure. Surely not rocket science on the why-for's and what-how's of their being. Yet, each one with characteristics and flaws that no other one has. Some will be on their way back into the water cycle before others, some will hold steadfast until nature says it's time to go.

As individual as their minute cousins, the snowflake.

As quirky as Druids that watch such things and ponder...

Ducks, Geese, and Ice!

It's been a bit since I posted here, so I thought it about time.

We've still been getting out and spending time among the wild during these colder times, just not for much of a long stint at a time. Seen some beautiful sites with the light frosting of snow on the wonderful rock formations and mesas around town. This past week it's barely warmed to 32 degrees (Fahrenheit, that is) outside during the day, and been in the low teens at night.

Well, today was a nice sunny day, and a balmy 34 mid afternoon, so we decided to take our Jack Russell (he's the perfect Druid's dog...loves to get outdoors and play) out to Clear Creek just south of town. To our surprise, it's frozen over with a good sheet of ice! There was an open spot of water in one area of direct sunlight, and a flock of ducks (pintail, I think, weren't close enough to really tell) were enjoying themselves. As well, some Canadian Geese were sunning themselves on the ice sheet.

Had some fun skipping some good, flat, rocks across the ice. our JRT was fascinated by the "tin roof" sound when they struck. He was so anxious to get out there and chase them, but not knowing just how thick the ice really was, to his dismay, we kept him on the shore