White-Eyes
BY MARY OLIVERIn winterall the singing is inthe tops of the treeswhere the wind-birdwith its white eyesshoves and pushesamong the branches.Like any of ushe wants to go to sleep,but he’s restless—he has an idea,and slowly it unfoldsfrom under his beating wingsas long as he stays awake.But his big, round music, after all,is too breathy to last…
The cycle of seasons in the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge has come around to Winter. I have spent all my winters living in the northern hemisphere, the last nine of them being in Wisconsin. I have heard residents remark on how the winters have gotten milder in general, with less snow.
I have, however, heard a new term since moving to Wisconsin that I don’t remember from my childhood: the polar vortex. There were two occasions in two different years that this term came up. What it meant to us was that temperatures hit -20 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, not factoring in wind chill. During that first polar vortex, my housemate was working as a Postal Service carrier. He was walking around delivering mail in those temperatures. He found it absolutely thrilling to be able to do it and revel in the superlative extremes of Nature. 
I marvel at the robust character of animals who over-winter in this climate – deer, cardinals, field mice, and all the rest who tough it out. I learned another term while volunteering at a local Nature Center. In the ‘sub-nivean zone’ beneath the snow, small rodents make trails to their burrows, accessing stores of food. Imagine all that activity going on under inches of frozen precipitation! Then imagine all the humans that complain about a dusting that makes their morning commute more inconvenient. 
I appreciate the way Winter teaches me to accept what is and live in the moment. If it’s cold, it’s cold. You have to deal with it. Complaining and wishing do not make the Earth move closer to the Sun. Only Time can relieve you of Winter, so you might as well slow down and enjoy it.
“ Complaining and wishing do not make the Earth move closer to the Sun.” – Great line!
Thanks!
So it is – slow down and enjoy it. When I was a child I used to sit by the tiny footsteps of the mice running under the snow, waiting for the occational glimpse when they were forced to come out from there. A wonder it is.
A lovely post.
Thanks, Ann-Christine!
Lovely post Priscilla – yes the polar vortex. I’m fine with it if it doesn’t last more than a day or two, hence my relocation to the south. Now I kind of feel that way about summer LOL. we humans, I suppose, are never fully content. I love your idea of slowing down and simply enjoying what is. These days I think maybe we have no choice! Loved your frosty windowpane!
Thanks, Tina. Yes, it seems contentment needs to be cultivated or so many weeds of complaint grow!
I feel the same way about summer as you do in winter. Just hunker down and enjoy and reflect indoors. Lovely photos!
You must live where it’s very hot, I guess. Thanks for your visit!
I live in Sacramento California. Summers used to warm to mild, but now to climate change we’ve moved to hot!
Ah, yes. I lived in CA for 15 years and my mom and sibs still live there in the Bay Area. Climate change has dangerously heated up there for sure!
Yes, there is so much beauty all around us, just showing in different forms. So enjoy and appreciate everything as it comes. Your captures are gorgeous by the way.
Thank you, Teresa!
Great photos. Brrr! Well done.
Thanks, John. After tomorrow, no more brrr for me! On my way to Oregon.
What is winter without a snowman (or as in this case a snowcat to be more precise).
Of course! I have one of a snow Tyrannosaurus, too. Should have included that, too.
Amazing pictures – love the window frost!
Frost is so pretty…and reminds you how lucky you are to be inside!