Last night I took the dogs out at bedtime. The wind had hushed. Icicles glittered from the eaves. But there was something else . . .
Snowflakes were caught in spider filaments. I had never seen anything like this before. I was enchanted.
I know this last one looks like a plastic ornament from the dimestore, but it truly is a little ice crystal snowflake dangling from a spider web outside the Writing Studio and Bait Shop on a dark December night.
Who knew that spiders decorated for the holidays? Such wonders everywhere, everywhere, during this Season of Lights.
Torch Lake Views 
Carsten
December 15, 2009
Oh, you were lucky. And they didn’t move away in a flash.
I was lucky too this morning. We thought the fox was extinct in our area due to scab. But I saw one running cross the road right in front of me. Shortly after I saw a common buzzard taking a mouse 10-15 feet from me. Absolutely no chance of taking a picture of either.
Gerry
December 15, 2009
Sometimes I think it’s lucky NOT to have the camera when wonders present themselves. Then we can let go of the notion of capturing the moment and simply experience it. Each of your morning encounters is safely tucked away in your memory, so you can bring it out when you need it.
I am very glad to hear that you have a neighborhood fox. There’s a den in the swampy part of the woods near me, but I’ve seen a fox exactly twice in the last ten years. Very elusive, foxes.
Anna Surface
December 15, 2009
Ah now, that is so very neat! I haven’t seen anything like this before either. You noticed and photographed this. How many things do we fail to notice? Those little things, little details, those things hidden in plain sight? I especially like the first and last photos. Well, I go both ways with being in the moment. Sometimes it is awesome wonder when I notice something that is breathtaking. And sometimes I do wish to capture it with a snap of the camera even though many times it doesn’t come out as I saw it. Sometimes, those magical times cannot be captured… just witnessed in the moment.
p.j. grath
December 15, 2009
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Gerry
December 16, 2009
I am very glad you liked it. Your enthusiasm overwhelmed the Akismet spam catcher, and I’ve only just retrieved your comment from Limbo. Picked it up, dusted it off, and hung it up with the rest of the decorations. Very festive.
Gerry
December 15, 2009
Thank you Anna. I like the first and last images best, too, but I couldn’t leave the other kids at home . . .
Whether it’s a fish or a photo, we always think about the One that Got Away. (The one I would most like to have is the triple rainbow that arched over Central Lake after a summer rain. I suspect I’ll never see that again.)
katherine
December 15, 2009
Those are so cool Gerry. How great it was to capture it on ummm… film? what DO you call it now?
Gerry
December 16, 2009
Thank you, Katherine. I don’t know what we should call it. “Capture it on flash memory card” just doesn’t sound right.
California Dreaming
December 16, 2009
What a beautiful sight. I always knew that someday I would find a reason for liking spiders! This is the second reason. The first reason I just recently found was when I learned that Little Bush Tits build their nests out of spider webs.
Keep up the good work, I really enjoy your blog.
Gerry
December 16, 2009
You are home from the hospital! And feeling frisky and writing about Little Bush Tits and spider webs! This is extremely good news.
Cindy Lou
December 16, 2009
Beautimous and lovely….. one of the greatest blessings of your blog (And Kathy’s) is that you remind me to slow down and really look at life around me.
Gerry
December 16, 2009
Thank you Cindy Lou – a friend just sent me a photo of his car turned turtle on US 31 (thank goodness no injuries). It pays to slow down in December . . . !
Scott Thomas Photography
December 16, 2009
Amazing and it must have been really cold. I bet the spiders where tucked in for the night.
Gerry
December 16, 2009
Nary a spide in sight. But those silky strands were definitely attached to the icicles. It occurs to me that there are plenty of old webs hanging about under my eaves. Dunno if the ones that caught the snowflakes were old or new–but they hadn’t collected any dust or leaves or, um, dead flies.
centria
December 17, 2009
Oh! What beauty! What a lucky “capture”! I wonder if spiders hibernate. Yes, I would think. But to think their webs are till around!
flandrumhill
December 17, 2009
I saw spiders in the marsh and among the seaweed on the shore this week. They are amazing creatures and your photos have certainly captured their magic.
isathreadsoflife
December 19, 2009
Fantastic and precious pictures ! Lucky you had your camera with you, Gerry. Enchanting and magical moment so well photographed.
Gerry
December 19, 2009
Hi Kathy, Amy, Isa! I’m glad you liked the photos. Babs Young sent me a link to a design site, where I followed a link to a snowflake site . . . oh my. Looky here: http://www.SnowCrystals.Com
flandrumhill
December 19, 2009
Gerry, I’m no stranger to that Snow Crystals page. Aren’t they gorgeous? Snowflakes are the most awesome hexagons on the planet.
kanniduba
December 20, 2009
Gerry, these are gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing these wonders! 🙂
I agree that at times, capturing a moment in time as a memory is more special than capturing it on camera. As a Mom of three, I can attest to that fact. Everyone says that by the third child there are fewer photos because you are too busy. I disagree…I think there are fewer photos of successive children because as parents, you quickly learn the value of experiencing the special moments with your children, rather than capturing them for posterity. You are simply too caught up in the moment of joy to think about grabbing the camera…
Gerry
December 20, 2009
Thank you–it means a lot to me that you liked these.
My brother-in-law is an accomplished photographer, and used to take many photos of family gatherings and special trips. Then he stopped. He explained that he would rather be there, having the experience rather than recording it. I think your children are very lucky to have such a wise mom. And I am saddened by the number of children I meet who have been photographed so much and so . . . purposefully? dunno . . . that they automatically “pose” when a camera is in evidence. It is nice to have photos to remind us of wonderful times and beloved people, but the very best memories will always be the ones engraved with joy on our hearts.
giiid
December 20, 2009
So beautiful. Both the motives and that you had eyes for it.
Gerry
December 20, 2009
Thank you, Birgitte. That is a lovely comment.