Snow!

I woke up this morning, and the world was blanketed with snow.

Living out here in Colorado like this, snow is anything but a nuisance — it’s just magic, plain and simple. The world looks so beautiful, and it’s hard to keep from smiling no matter what you’re doing. The fact that I don’t usually ever have to go anywhere makes all the difference in the world.

I wandered outside and just looked at the world for a while. Even a familiar scene is entrancing when there’s snow everywhere. I found two sets of tracks in the snow just outside the front door, emerging from one side of the house, circling the car, and then disappearing back up the hill on the other side of the house. I still don’t know what they are. (One set is clearly from a hoofed creature, although it doesn’t look quite right for elk and the path it took squeezes in areas far too narrow for an elk; the other looks decidedly canine or feline. Coyote is my best bet, as mountain lion tracks, at least according to Google, don’t look like that either.)

I introduced myself to the erg (rowing machine) for a few minutes in the basement…it felt surprisingly good, but also definitely something I’ll have to get used to before I can do it for a truly long time. My brother (as many of you know) was an Olympic-caliber rower, and I’d love to see how well I can do at it myself. That brief workout inspired me to go running outside…where I promptly fell right on my ass. Note to self: snow covers up ice. But a further workout indoors left me in the mood to go outside once more — this time walking carefully and slowly, not trying to actually run.

Wandering outside in the snow early in the morning, covered up in warm clothes, coffee close at hand, is one of the most wonderful feelings I’ve had in a long time. Combine that with hot chocolate back inside, listening to Nick Drake and Peter Mayer, hot steel-cut oatmeal with maple syrup and brown sugar, and I was in heaven. Even better, bacon and eggs call soon…

Before that, though, I wanted to go outside again…and I took my camera with me this time. It’s amazing how wonderful it can be just to meander through your own front yard out here. This time of morning there are almost no cars around, only the occasional person letting their dog out, and you can just look around in wonder. The road was matted with the tracks of vehicles past, but, fortunately, it didn’t snow enough that they plowed, making it all the more beautiful. Snow surfed off the peaks as the winds kicked up, making great plumes in the air.

Back inside, it was warm and I was ridiculously happy.