Sometimes it seems like this winter just won't end. The photo above is from the second snow of the winter, the first one of 2010. It left us with just under five inches of winter precipitation. We were very fortunate that it didn't cause any roadway and power line problems for most of us. This particular view is from our front porch. Some times the best view is from your own widows looking out. Especially if it's cold.

 

The birds took full advantage of one of our feeders. The combination of gold finches and house finch adds a touch of color to the white. It's not much, because the birds are still in their winter colors. They don't really put on the bright colors until late March or April. Then their brilliant colors serve to attract their mates. The usual bickering and fighting that normally takes places between our feathered friends seemed to come to a stop during the snow fall. The truce appeared to be short lived. As soon as the snow melted the fowl tempers came back.

 

Since the roads were in good shape, we made a trip up the Natchez Trace and found the bridge at the swamp partially protected from the snow. You can tell the stately cypress trees seem to stand guard while providing a canopy over the foot bridge. The snow adds a blanket of insulation to natures normal sounds. It's difficult to imagine in this winter silence that the surroundings of this scene is in hibernation from the sounds of an active ecosystem.

In less than 48 hours the snow was gone. The south was sunny again and kids were back in school with only stories and memories of our second of what is now our fourth snow fall of the winter. Thankfully, the best thing about Mississippi winters is they are brief in their periods of severity and there are always flowers waiting to bloom after the cold snaps and warm the eyes and the heart.

Stay warm and enjoy the view.

Charles