Middlemoon Creek Walk

Just south and west of us is a creek that runs through a neighborhood from Lake Harriet. It's a part of the chain of lakes and is maintained by the city. But for one magical weekend in the winter, the neighbors take over.

Residents in this area began decorating the path along the creek with ice sculptures. It started out small — balloons that are filled with water, frozen and the balloon popped. Ice in a bucket that is turned upside down. Then it got a bit more elaborate.

Now it is a magical walk of all kinds of sculptures, lit with candles from the inside, protected from the snow and wind that would extinguish them. So my camera and I went for a stroll.

There were elaborate altars of ice, decorated with candles and lit from inside. There was an incredible miniature castle, about the height of a four-year-old who stared at it in amazement.  The path was lit with little balls of icy light. Snow was falling steadily, making streetlamps in the area hazy with an otherworldly glow.

The path was busy with many families out to see the sights. People were polite in making way for others along the path. Dogs were petted, children smiled at, and strangers struck up conversations. A group of adults chatted about whose house they were heading back to for a warm toddy after their walk.

Yes, the sculptures were beautiful to see, and the ducks on the open water, huddling together with snow gathering on their backs. But the most beautiful experience of all was that of community in this special little creek.

First Snow

We finally got our first snow of any substance this past weekend. It was supposed to be a trace, it was more like 3 inches. It began around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and didn't finish up until after midnight.

I had been down at a neighbor's house that evening, and left her home to walk back to mine around 9:30. I walked outside to find 4 or 5 neighbors outside, shoveling, walking dogs or playing in the snow. It was a festive atmosphere, yet still quiet with the hush of new fallen snow.

My photo doesn't do it justice.

Wordless Wednesday: Minnesota Mountains

A snow mountain left in a parking lot near work. Note the size of the tree next to it.

Any takers on the estimated date of when it will finally disappear?

That groundhog has some 'splainin to do

I need to explain my Wordless Wednesday post of yesterday. I confess, I wrote it on Sunday night and scheduled it to post Wednesday morning.

I clearly hadn't paid much attention to the weather forecast for the week, or I wouldn't be talking about how happy I was to finally see our patio lights again.

So let me correct that post now, can I?

Dec 12, 2010, after 17" of snow

Dec 23, 2010 after another dumping

Jan 16, 2011 -- fare thee well, little light! We'll see you in spring.

March 18, 2011. Hello, little light! Is it spring yet?

March 23, 2011. Nope, not spring yet!

So there you have it. That groundhog sure doesn't know what he's talking about. Why is groundhog day in the middle of winter anyway? Wouldn't it make more sense to have it be closer to spring, when there's an actual possibility of him being right?