The River Speaks in Riddles

Winter is here! I love it - the trees all have snow in their branches, the ground is white and crunchy, you can see your breath, the Christmas lights are twinkling, I just love it.

The river is almost frozen now; the dark water making its way through circuitous icy channels still babbles merrily, it's just a little more subdued.

In this winding valley, closely guarded by tall Ponderosa pines, there is seldom any wind, so the snow falls straight down. It is like living in a glass ball with the wintry scene and falling snowflakes. I like to imagine that is the way my Mom sees it now.

During the last week Dad has painstakingly hung 60 strings of outdoor Christmas lights illuminating 7 trees, three buildings and the railing of the back deck. So now, in our particular glass ball there is also a gingerbread house!