Welcome Winter

This morning my dog woke me at about 4 am, scratching to get back into the house (ML had let him out a few minutes earlier).  Out the door, I could see that, although it had stopped snowing at dusk yesterday, the wind had been up, and the fine snow had drifted back over the walk and parts of the drive.  I slipped back into bed, but by 4:30 I realized there would be no more sleep for me.

Knowing it was cold, I donned long underwear, sweats, ski pants, boots, parka, gloves and balaclava.  About half an hour with snow blower and shovel cleared the drive and walks. Then I came in and changed for the gym.  The Cooper coughed a couple of times warming up, but the heated seats had kicked in by the time I jumped aboard and pulled out of the garage.  The outside thermometer on the dash said -4 degrees. 

At 7:42 am the sun grazed the Tropic of Capricorn and began its long journey North.  By then, I had showered off my workout sweat and was headed down to open the loft.  The mercury had risen to a balmy -3.   We certainly seem to be ready for winter up here in Maine.

[Update:  Yes, that is a photo of my house, taken yesterday early evening (12.20.2004), but the falling snow effect is courtesy of Corel PhotoPaint 'Cubist' Art Stroke.]