On the shortest day of the year we are given a reminder of just how Mother Nature really is in control of our lives. That most beautiful yet terrifying of weather phenomena, freezing rain, arrives. While everyone slips along icy walkways trying to finish their Christmas shopping or visit their friends the world around us is transformed into a translucent, sometimes sparkling wonderland.
The poor Japanese maples who refused to shed their leaves in the glory of an Indian summer are weighed down by their vanity. Their slender boughs are coated in a heavy ice and they look as if they are melting.
The crabapples that escaped the migrating birds transform into frozen Christmas ornaments. The sound of tinkling is in the air as the trees rattle their icy chains.
Only the regal blue spruce, with stubby downward needles made for a climate like this, relaxes and enjoys the jewels it wears.
The world slows to a stop and a peace falls over our community on this solstice night . Maybe not a voluntary peace but one, if you’re in the right frame of mind, that is lovely just the same.
Womanseyeview's Blog 
gorgeously nippy!!!!
The pictures of the icy wonderland are beautiful. I especially liked the one of the crab apples.
Thank you and those crab apples have all been eaten by cold, hungry squirrels by now.
Yes it’s lovely through the window!
It does look beautiful, really beautiful,but I can imagine how scarily slippery the walkways must be.
I never experience this beautiful, peaceful, icy atmosphere of white Christmas, I love it.
We just had around 40 degree C on last two days and it is very hot at the moment.
Merry Christmas.
It is sometimes better experienced through photos! Merry Christmas to you too.
Lovely photos and lovely sentiment. It is beautiful out there. Merry Christmas. Irene
The same to you Irene and enjoy that new grandchild!
Beautiful winter wonderland. Spectacular photographs and poetic descriptions of how people and things cope (or not) with winter weather.
I hear that you have a few feet of snow accumulated already this season!