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| "Hello, Old Man Winter." |
It is bleak and harsh, stamping out life.
At times, it gets mind numbingly cold.
And the only colours on the ground are the plastic monstrosity forgotten at the first snowfall.
The kids don't care, they love crotchety Winter all the same.
Sure, there is shoveling but we like to call that "character building" and focus on how it'll help build "big muscles"!
But after a storm, beauty envelopes the landscape making postcard pictures of winter wonderland possible.
I love peering through the windows when everything is covered in either flaky, fluffy snow or the dense blanket that shroud branches.
But it also means that there is sweaty hard work on the other side that needs immediate attention. It is times like this I appreciate my 'man-shovel'.
It isn't very often that we get sunny blue skies after a snow storm but one morning, Winter had a change of heart and indulged me with a scene from wonderland.
That day, the kids were on a 2-hour school delay because of the storm. I waited with them and enjoyed the few moments capturing the glow the morning sun had cast over our backyard.
As you can tell, I have a fascination for snow covered trees.
Something about stark layers and gnarled still branches get me every time.
Snow dressed Christmas trees are eye candies especially when sunlight hits them at the right angle.
Otherwise, there is grave harmony when the sky is overcast.
Do not be deceived at the sight of these berries -- this isn't a hint of spring but evidence that Winter hasn't blanketed all colours.
It is end-February, and the snow pile keeps building. The groundhog's forecast for a long winter seems ominous.
But the kids are determined to gleefully ride out the rest of the season.
