Woods In Winter

When winter winds are piercing chill,

And through the hawthorn blows the gale,

With solemn feel I tread the hill, 

That overbrows the lonely vale.

O'er the bare upland, and away

Through the long reach of desert woods,

The embracing sunbeams chastely play,

And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak,

The summer vine in beauty clung,

And summer winds the stillness broke,

The crystal icicle is hung.

Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs,

Pour out the river's gradual tide,

Shrilly the skater's iron rings, 

And voices fill the woodland side.

Alas! how changed from the fair scene,

When birds sang out their mellow lay,

And winds were soft, and woods were green,

And the song ceased not with the day!

But still wild music is abroad,

Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;

And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,

Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud..

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear

Has grown familiar with your song;

I hear it in the opening year,

I listen, and it cheers me long.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Just wanted to share a few photos my husband, Joey took at work earlier in the week. The temperature was around 20 degrees two nights in a row. The first night they left the sprinklers in the spray fields running and they found this winter wonderland Tuesday morning. So pretty...:) Love how the ice looks on the palmettos in the last picture...they are on the left side in the background...long spiky leaves. I wish I could have seen it myself, but I was working. I'm glad he took pictures to share though. Tomorrow night we are supposed to have our coldest night so far this year, so I guess it will be in the teens. Better bundle up! I do hope to have my electric fireplace next year so I can cozy up to a "fire" on these cold nights. I pray each of you has a blessed and beautiful upcoming week. 

Until next time.....