Puzzle Ice! -I Heart Macro

Yesterday I drove through the Great Columbia Gorge in a snow and ice storm.  The ice followed me all the way home.  This morning I awoke to a quiet world, crackling with ice.

My precious Grandfather would say this storm was a Silver Thaw.  What a pretty name.  When I was a child such storms were magical.  One could pull away an entire ice leaf, perfect in every detail, from the tree.  Of course, ice leaves taste wonderful!  Yes, I tasted one--and the magic of childhood is still there.

The ice is melting now, and as it does it begins to define each droplet where it first froze--making patterns which look like gorgeous puzzles.

This one was so pretty I wanted to share it with you.

Have a lovely week, dear Friends!

Hemmed in Ice

In January the cold ice slicked and sparkled over our entire world. My Grandfather called this phenomenon a "Silver Thaw." Which is a lovely and whimsical way to to describe an ice storm.

Over the space of a week the icicles on the eves of our home grew to over three feet long. This is the view from one of the upstairs windows. It looks for all the world like a hem of icy fringe.

Years ago I remember my siblings and I flocking outside to marvel at a magical world covered with glittering ice. We would slide across the little pond and pull ice leaves from plants to eat them. Ice leaves seemed to have a flavor all their own. Then there were the icicles, which, held in our sock-clad fingers, also made a lovely winter treat.

Ah, Winter. Though you are intriguing, I am glad Spring has finally melted you away!