The First Day of Winter

Hoar Frosted Spirea, originally uploaded by leucanthemum b.

I woke this morning to see the remnants of an overnight fog on the plants surrounding my house. The temperature had risen to nearly the freezing point of water, for the first time in about three weeks. The meteorologist says it will thaw for tomorrow and Friday, before we go back to snow flurries Christmas Eve.

I think I'm the only one in my neighborhood not complaining about the record cold weather. When the temp drops, the indoor kitties become more cuddly, and the outdoor kitties go all fluffy -- and cuddly, too.

Of course, I've had to turn my thermostat down to just barely above seeing-my-breath-indoors, what with the rising cost of heating fuels, but that just gives me an excuse to keep shuffling about the house in fluffy slippers, a soft fuzzy hat and a gigantic fuzzy blanket, looking like the Bear Queen seeking hibernation. I caught a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror as I was hurrying to get ready for coffee with my bestest friend, this morning, and nearly scared myself sane.

I have yet to comb my hair into submission, today, as well. The nice thing about winter is, you can have the most amazingly chaotic bedhead, and call it "winter-hat-hair". It helps if you sleep in a wooly knitted cap, too. Then, you're not fibbing.

Winter is spiffy. I'm glad it's officially here. But I'll be even gladder when it's gone.