Hoar Frost

 

On December 26, 2024 I woke up to a changed world.  Every tree branch, leaf, plant stalk, etc. was covered by a beautiful coating of hoar frost.  Here is a series of images of the lovely transformation that was all too fleeting.

Winter Descent

       She struggles forward – her head bent low

       Buffeted by winds and blowing snow.

         Deep drifts and gusts erase her path,

           She vainly battles winter's wrath.

             Strength is lost with every step.

               Finally, there's nothing left.

                 Laying down her head

                   On a snowy bed

                     So soft and deep

                       Inviting sleep.

2019

(From the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Winter Garden

 In a mind's haze, numbed by age

she stumbles through the house

at night

And finds her door

And opens it

And passes through

To frosted garden

there within

the moonlit view.

There's solace here –

familiar sights that ease her fear.

She sees the birdbath

but all is ice ...

And no bird will come to bathe or drink

And she is lost and cannot think

of what she needs or what she wants.

And when she's found in frozen pose

Upon her favorite garden chair

I know that it is no mistake

that something led her there.

December 2016

(From the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Sidewalk café

I guess I must be an optimist because when I think of winter I think of crisp white snow, sunshine and cobalt blue skies. I forget all about the dirty slush or frigid temperatures. Well today lived up to my idealized winter day!

I headed out to Mount Royal this morning and spent hours wandering about looking for wildlife. There were lots of tracks in the snow (fox, raccoon, squirrel, crow) but not very many creatures were out and about. At least not where I could see them. However a Downy Woodpecker was very cooperative by posing in the sun on a nearby tree.

Here it is.

The most amazing part of the day came later though when I was on my way home. By then I was feeling a little hungry and thought that a coffee and muffin would have been perfect. But the cafés on Côte-des-Neiges are always crowded and getting a seat is very difficult.

However ... the Second Cup had an outside terrace that was ... not crowded! So there I was, on January 23rd in a Montreal sidewalk café in the late afternoon!! I had no hat, no gloves and it was absolutely wonderful.

Mon pays c'est l'hiver ... vive l'hiver!