So early. I hate it. Sleeping at least  ’til seven would be such a treat, but with two obnoxious cats that think five am is “fill my face time” this is not an option. The one good thing about it is when I pull the blinds up in the spare bedroom and the pre-dawn blush that tints the snow pink greets me, but is gone in a blink of an eye. What follows is the washed out shades of gray and harsh chalkiness that makes up the snow of Wisconsin winters.

Long walks on quiet streets can help past time that seems to stand still when everything is bleak and color is no where to be seen once the holiday lights are diminished for another year. Can you tell this is not my favorite time of year? Maybe wintering in a green state with mild weather that warms me clear down to my very bones would do the trick. But walking on a snowy morning with flakes of the stuff catching on my lashes and down the front of my scarf as I plow through it listening to nothing because snow leaves no sound as it flutters to the ground. This determination I have to be part of all this would be missed. So stick your nose in a book,Nancy, and before you know it spring will be here and the pastels of the first blooms will welcome you once again on your walks.