Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Frosted Notions

The world is blue and frosted and sparkling, but after three months of looking at snow and ice, one craves something else entirely.

It is at precisely this time every year, that I seem to turn inward and away from the world beyond the windows, toward books and tea and photo archives and music and fewer words. It's an insular thing, but in a good way. The psyche has an opportunity to rest, recharge the old batteries, replenish inner directives and marshal the enthusiasms necessary to get through at least six (sigh) more weeks of winter.

I had a happy thought this morning as I looked at the gracefully arched and artfully frosted branches peeking out of the snow drifts here and there in the garden. In only a week or two, owls will be nesting in the Lanark Highlands, and the maple syrup season will (hopefully) be in full swing. I close my eyes, and I can see clouds of white smoke billowing out of the sugar shacks - I can hear owls calling in the woods. The images are powerful and healing "stuff" indeed. It will be only a few weeks until I am once again in the companionship of the wild owls, and that makes me happy all over.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photo. The snow seems to be to helping the branches touch the Earth.

Valerie said...

My "inward" month was January....I hope it wasn't too soon for this winter that seems like it will go on forever.

When I look at that photo, I see forsythia branches and the potential for those early yellow flowers popping out in just a few weeks.

Thanks for the photo, the thoughts, and the owl reminder.

Shell said...

I have never seen wild owls, I'm sure it must be a beautiful sight. Thinking of sweet maple syrup makes me hungry.

Katie said...

Oh wow...I could imagine your visual so well...even though I've never seen a sugar shack, and didn't even know there was such a thing. We have owls here in Oregon where I live in the woods, but not sugar season...how fascinating. Your pictures show such a keen eye...full of wonder, beauty and soul. Thank you for sharing them!