Beauty in the Cold

Yes, it's cold!  But does that mean you can't go outside?  No, says Ruby!

 Just dress for the weather, and don't stay out too long.
Even though it's winter, there are still many beautiful sights to see.

The swamp this time of year seems quiet compared to other seasons.  No quacking ducks or singing birds (well, a few Chickadees), but there has been someone here before us.

See the tracks leading off from the front center of the photo to the right?  I'm not sure what animal left them, but it was nice to see a sign of life.

Just a couple of days ago, the temperature was 45 degrees and the swamp was a combination of ice and water.  Everyday it changes, especially this winter, it seems.

This was taken on Sunday, a gray but warmer day.  There were lots of patterns in the ice, and even some open water there at the far side of the photo.

That changed quickly and the temperatures dropped into the minus degrees overnight.  Which resulted in some really cool (sorry, I couldn't resist) miniature ice crystal formations.

They were more beautiful in real life than my photos show.  

While the beauty of those ice crystals was in miniature... only an inch or so high, I found beauty in the full-size ice as well.

If the ice and cold is getting you down, take Ruby's advice and get outside, even if for a short while, and enjoy!

"Get out there and make some tracks of your own" says Ruby!

"Then you can go inside and warm up your nose!"  Disclaimer from Grammy: Ruby's ear flopped right over her nose all by itself this way, when she lay down for her nap after we had been outside for a walk!