Grandma's House

The most beautiful mornings of winter are the ones when a fog has frozen on all the trees, plants, and fence lines in view. Then when the sun comes up, it's like a crystal wonderland has appeared overnight. That's what happened to this tree, which is backlit by the city lights in Billings, Montana. The photo is called Fire And Ice. Enjoy it. There aren't that many good things about winter. You've got the crystal mornings (only good when you don't have to go out), the bugs all die off, the kids are in school, you get to wear really soft, woolly sweaters. That's about it.

At least for me. I manage to get through winter by counting off the special days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day (rose parade), (then a long wait), Daytona 500, then March Madness. Then it's Spring. Yes, I did leave out Valentine's Day. We don't celebrate it. My husband gives me special gifts throughout the year for no particular reason. Plus, we both feel like Valentine's Day is a ripoff. Who wants to force a guy to buy you a gift? I'd rather get it without asking, thank you.