December

“Like a red morn that ever yet betokened,

to the seaman, tempest to the field,

Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds,

Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.”
Shakespeare (Venus and Adonis)

The sky was bright red at sunrise when I left for work yesterday. We have enjoyed several days of Indian Summer, but this sky signaled the end of the fair weather. Fifteen minutes after I took this picture, the rain started and grey skies with dropping temperatures are ushering in the month of December.

There is no benefit in complaining about the inevitable winter weather. The ice rink in front of our city hall has been open for a couple of weeks and anyone can lace up for a free skate. Then you can go next door to the café for a hot drink and watch the action through the windows. Even if we do not get a lot of snow today, the temperatures will soon be low enough for the snow machines to start making a good base at the local ski club.

I was looking through some old cards and came across one sent by Grandma D. to our young daughters in 1986. Grandma was 90 years old that year and she shared the beauty she saw in winter time nature with them. The hand written poem accompanying the card read,

The fence posts wear marshmallow hats
all on a winter's day.
And bushes in their nightgowns
are kneeling down to pray.
And all the trees wear silver gowns
and want to dance away.

Happy December!