the day began with sun dogs

the snow pieces from the drifts are beautiful

Herc looking through a window

Snowblower!

Snowblower stops!!

Debra, intrepid shoveler!!!

Breaking through the drifts

me with ice lanterns

the beginning of a heart

moon rising, almost full

Herc and Lady, our faithful buddies

Debra’s rainbow lantern

“Everyday is a good day as long as we adjust ourselves to the day.” (Unknown)

Having an ice rink has transformed my relationship with winter. I have a friendlier relationship now. Rarely a day passes when I do not go out to the rink. I love to watch the sun rise and set from the rink. This week, the moon almost full, has been spectacular. It’s something like tending a garden…. those of you who grow vegetables or flowers check it daily or sometimes several times daily. The garden, like the ice rink, is where we take stock of the day, of its moods and weather, of the small changes, of the animal tracks or signs.

The ice rink feels like a collaboration with Mother Nature, and she is firmly in charge. I respond. How will the ice freeze? Pebbly or smooth? How much snow will fall? The prevalent wind in these parts is the North Wind, and while the wind creates amazing drifts, it also polishes the ice smooth as glass. How can I work with Mother Nature?

I love that the ice rink is free. It requires a shovel and some muscles and the will to dig and find ice beneath the snow. True, we just got a snowblower, but as you will see from the pictures the high snow drifts have stopped this machine in its tracks. Where snowblowers can’t go, two resolute women with shovels can go!!

Then, once the shovelling is done, the skating begins. I skate in  circles weaving this way and that through the curved paths we have cleared. I feel as if the skein of wool that is wrapped up inside me is slowly unravelling as I skate!