“A snowstorm has commenced, fine flakes falling steadily, and rapidly whitening all the landscape. In half an hour the russet earth is painted white, even to the horizon. Do we know of any other so silent and sudden a change?”
– Henry David Thoreau
Photograph by Ellen Blum Barish
Beautiful. I love trees in winter. Good reminder of the silence. The clutter in my head about coping with the snow and the car and getting around and all overtakes the beauty and silence that are possible on snow days.
And you’ve just identified why I resonated with this “tree” moment and why I felt compelled to share. We all get tangled up in winter negativity and it is so easy not to absorb its gifts. I made a conscious decision this year, with help from Thoreau, to watch and listen more this winter. Thanks so much for your
comments, Betsy. I so agree!
To answer Thoreau: No we don’t. Snow fall and how it transforms the landscape is magical, sometimes charmingly so, and sometimes a little threatening.
So true, Annette. The combination of snow’s magic, and potential threat, forces us to acknowledge it. And this season, it really has showed us!
Ellen, thank you for your posting. I’ve been
Struggling with the overwhelming frustrating
Feeling about the bad weather & now I have
A visual signal thanks to u so I can remember to breathe, stop the bad feelings
& let in the beauty, serenity of quiet winter
White days. Definite link to the joy of childhood & playing in the snow.
Thank you so much!
Yes, yes, Beth! Just what I was hoping for. A visual signal to remind us. I’m so glad this image did that for you. Thank you for writing to say so!