When I lived in North Dakota, winter was a reliable season.   It got cold by the middle of September and stayed cold until May.  It seemed like it only snowed once, then that snow blew around from place to place until the spring thaw.

Here it’s a much different story, some days are warm and sunny, punctuated by cold and snow.   Last Thursday I was wearing shorts (I will admit to being a little crazy) and today I woke up to this.

It is rather magical when you don’t have to go out in bad weather.

The trees have been transformed by snow clinging to the pine needles.

Every twig of the lilacs shows.

And on the scrub oak as well.

Everything is mysterious and quiet since there is no traffic noise.   It’s a lovely respite, on Wednesday it will be warm again and life will go back to being busy.