January

Lilac bush with buds, dried flowers and ice.

Beautiful icy landscape

 We enjoyed some snow and then an ice storm during the week between the holidays.  We got about 6 inches or so of snow at first so our youngest got to spend the better part of one of his school vacation days learning to ride his new (used) snowmobile!  He took to it like a fish to water--no surprise there.  We hope that he will enjoy winter trail riding on the wonderful trail system we have right here where we live.

I enjoy when there is a whole cycle of life captured in a photo like this lilac bush which had plumped out it's buds during that warm spell in December.  Just behind it are the remnants of what was flowers and then seeds perhaps? of the plant.  Now it's all coated in ice and waiting for the next cycle in it's life.

The whole landscape was coated with ice on my way to work that morning and I felt the need to stop and appreciate it before heading to an office for the next 8 or 9 hours.  Such a beautiful world out there.

First ride on the Polaris

Knit lace shawl

I have been knitting and made several gifts for the holidays this year.  Some of which I forgot to photograph!  Here are 3 of the finished items.  I also "whipped up" a neckwarmer for our middle son who reported that walking the 20 minutes from the room he rents just off campus to work last Tuesday in -3 temperatures found him wanting more winter clothing.  He was c-c-cold.  With any luck the addition of a neckwarmer that covers his face, more Smartwool socks and a nice polar fleece coat to go in his down coat will help him out in the next weeks of cold weather!

Tasha in her new slouchy hat

Hubby sporting his birthday scarf