solstice

what fire could ever equal the sunshine of a winter's day? - henry david thoreau

i treated myself to a walk to welcome the winter; the days will now begin to lengthen and the sunlight will come around to a less harsh angle in the evenings. once again i relished in the quiet after the weekend's snowfall. i followed a deer's tracks for a while, found those of a mouse or other small creature, and was treated to the brushwork of a larger bird's wings in the snow. i spotted a blue heron soaring overhead, and even found some green amongst the white. my footsteps crunched beneath me and the wind colored my cheeks red. winter is different, welcomed, when there is snow. i could brave the cold forever to spend a day in the snow and sun under a brilliant blue sky.