I’ve told you quite a lot lately about Winter and its gray flannel dress suit. Today a little sunshine splashed in the front windows. In the interest of balanced reporting, I left the housecleaning behind and trotted out into the day.
We parked at the DNR access at the north end of Torch Lake and walked down to the shore. No ice as far as we could see . . . which is miles and miles from this spot.
The sun shone on the snow in the little wooded patch next to the boat ramp. Nice, bright sun, too. You’d think it might melt the snow, but you’d be wrong, because it was still very cold out there.
At the edge of the little park there’s a cattail swamp, and in the cattail swamp scrubby trees poke up into the sky. At the tops of the trees the crows station themselves, self-appointed sentinels of the neighborhood. This one called that blue right into the sky. Crows can be very persuasive.
Beyond that, on slightly higher, drier ground, a white birch gleams. It’s an extraordinarily cheering sight on a winter day.
Up on M-88 the Baptist Church sign advertises the upcoming Sportsmen’s Banquet. I rather liked last week’s sign, God permits U-turns, but on a day like this, when Mama Nature has laid out her own feast for all of us who love the outdoors, I’m in no mood to quibble. A couple of bouncy dogs, a down coat, warm wool socks and sunshine, beautiful sunshine. With those I can make it through winter just fine.
Torch Lake Views 
Cindy Lou
January 9, 2010
Sunshine makes all the difference in the world, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s headed up this way….we’re still wrapped in that old grey flannel!
Gerry
January 9, 2010
I hope you get some today. We’re having another sparkly morning with blue, blue skies. Two in a row! I can hardly believe it.
p.j. grath
January 9, 2010
I LOVE THIS SUNSHINE! Hoping it lasts all day and into tomorrow. I’ll settle for a dark night in between.
Gerry
January 9, 2010
Funny you should mention that. Last night when I walked the dogs there was heavy cloud cover. Rats, I thought, back to gray days tomorrow. Then, in the middle of the night, I woke up to a bright crescent moon and a lovely scatter of stars. It was, of course, bitter cold, but at least I knew there would be sunshine in the morning and sure enough there is.
Kathy
January 9, 2010
You had sunshine! You had sunshine! You lucky duck, you. I love your photographs. Just because they have taken off their gray flannel suit and are posing…au natural!
God permits U-turns. Oh, that is lovely news indeed. We must remember that. P.S. you were in my dream last night. You lived in community of people I was picking you up in my car (attached to a large Ferrellgas hose, don’t ask) and you only had one dog and it was scrambling into the back seat. No other details remembered!
Gerry
January 9, 2010
Oh dear! We were probably off on a mission to find the missing dog! Thank you for coming to our aid! And since we feared it might be a long expedition, we decided to conserve fuel by running the car on propane . . . . wait, wait, I’m not sure that was wise. I just went and checked. All fur children present and accounted for.
flandrumhill
January 9, 2010
Sunny days also bring those lovely blue shadows on snow. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen any of those.
Gerry
January 9, 2010
Aren’t they lovely, though? I read something recently that explained that shadowed snow absorbs the other colors of light more readily, but reflects back the blue–can’t find the reference now, but looking for it found this instead and thought you’d like it: Painting the Light from the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Anna Surface
January 10, 2010
Gorgeous photos. Today we are to have sunshine after the below zero bitter cold; however, the sun will be deceptive as it will still be cold. I will feel like a sunflower with the sun today, soaking it up.
I loved this that you wrote:
At the tops of the trees the crows station themselves, self-appointed sentinels of the neighborhood. This one called that blue right into the sky. Crows can be very persuasive.
Birds… the sing the sun up and sing the blue in the sky and sing the herald of spring and sing the sun down…. they sing Mother Nature and Father Sky. 🙂
Gerry
January 10, 2010
Thank you, Anna. I’m pretty sure we can make it through if we get a little sunshine here and there, decorated with birdsong. Assuming, of course, wool socks.
flandrumhill
January 10, 2010
Gerry, the information about light reflection and snow at the NC Museum of Art was SO interesting. Thanks for the link 🙂
Gerry
January 10, 2010
You are welcome. I love following rabbit trails across the internet. It’s very absorbing.