My early evening walk tonight was a treat - the temperature was in the upper 30s, allowing me to wear lighter layers. What a difference the temperature makes! Upper 30s was a wonderful change from the low teens with wind that has been the norm over the past few weeks.
We're one month into winter and I can already see the change in the light. I actually drove home late this afternoon in daylight! I'm looking forward to the predicted warmer (ok, just a little bit warmer) temperatures this weekend. It's too early to wish for spring...
Here's a memory from my early May visit to downeast Maine last year, a walk to Bar Island as the tide was changing directions, heading in.
As I wandered through the butterfly conservatory yesterday I was fascinated by butterflies wearing translucent wings (glasswinged butterflies). So beautiful...
Although the temperature was forecast to rise into the 30s today it looked like it would be a number of hours into the day before that happened. I thought about wandering somewhere in the snow but I felt like I needed a change of scenery - and some color! Hmm...
It didn't take too much thinking for me to remember the Magic Wings, a butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield, MA. They are open year-round, unlike a much closer-to-me butterfly conservatory, and the weather looked good for a drive. I double-checked the forecast before heading out; an almost two-hour drive (each way) in the snow didn't appeal to me. Snow showers were expected for late in the day. Given the clear but still chill morning weather I thought a drive to visit butterflies sounded good.
I arrived, purchased my entry ticket, stuffed my warm layers into the empty space in my photo backpack, and opened the door to magic. There were butterflies, a few birds, and some tropical inhabitants as well. I found the butterflies easiest to capture at rest although there were always many more flitting through the air.
Some of the butterflies showed bright blue wings when flying but that blue was hidden when they were resting; they usually rest with wings closed and the blue was only on the top surface of the wings. Very interesting.
It was wonderful to walk in a warm place and to be surrounded by splashes of color.
It almost seems as if the clouds and the sea are forming reflecting lines.
Brr... it's cold out there!
Those of us who live and work north of Boston were lucky though; yesterday's snow pretty much stayed south of a diagonal line stretching from Boston to the south and west. I found less than an inch of snow this morning at home and about the same amount in the town where my office lives. That was a nice surprise, especially when compared with the 18 inches (of snow) that hit the ground in some towns in Plymouth County.
Yesterday's snow left white under foot and white decorations in the trees. It called to me to go out and play, to wander in the woods.
I headed to Maudslay State Park thinking that the snow depth didn't call for snowshoes. I saw a few folks with skis, kids with sleds, and other people walking like me clad in simple winter boots. There was still a bit of snow in the air this morning, most of it pushed from the trees by the wind.
Today's forecast changed from a possibility of an inch (or so) of snow to a winter storm warning with a prediction of 3 to 5 inches of the white stuff. It started as a mix of rain and snow this morning before changing to heavy snow.
I walked, listening to a crunch under my feet as I traversed fresh snow, quiet, peaceful.
