Brrrrr....

The weather has been very cold for the last two weeks. The high today is supposed to be 19. I heard that some areas near my house have been as low as -6. I don't mind the cold except for the icy roads. When the temperature doesn't get above freezing, the snow turns into ice and then walking or driving anywhere is hazardous to your skeletal health. And the gravel on the roads is murder on your windshield (many cars have huge windshield cracks from the gravel flying everywhere).

However, despite the nuisance of winter, it does have its unique beauty. North Idaho is a winter wonderland right now. Barring a warm spell, we will definitely have a white Christmas. Throughout the year the lake changes "moods" with the weather and at this time of year it is a silvery color, peaceful and calm.

When the water is warmer than the air, it produces fog that permeates the whole valley. When I wake up in the morning and look out the window, I can't even see the other side of the lake because of the dense blanket of cloud over the water. The air is so cold it freezes the fog onto the trees so that they look ghostly white, without a hint of the usual green and brown. So much white, without a trace of any other color, is a winter wonderland.

All the snow makes it very hard to look for bald eagles in the trees around Beauty Bay. Hundreds of people come every year to "eagle watch" and without "eagle eyes" it's hard to find them in the trees. When there is little snow, the eagle's white head stands out amongst the trees but trees laden with snow make it very difficult to spot the white head.

Even though it is difficult getting around in this weather, it is also breathtakingly beautiful. I'm so happy that we won't have to dream of a white Christmas-- because we'll have one.