16 Jan, 2011 Author: Glorianna Davenport

Snow storms have been plentiful this winter. In late December, a snowstorm brought with it pounding surf causing all sorts of difficulties for the beach communities downstream from us. Last Monday, the latest winter storm dumped 8 inches of snow on the land before the precipitation turned to rain. The freezing temperatures that followed turned the landscape a glassy, crusty white. Throughout the cold, the flowing shallow waters of the headwaters attracted seagulls and wood ducks. Today, a lone swan, a blue heron, a flock of crows also grace the de-watered former impoundment. As we walk around the sandy edge of the former pond, the grand-children delight in finding traces of coyote, deer and some smaller 4 legged creatures that I could not identify for certain. We head toward the source, but the children soon tire of trudging through snow; they head for the woods. Nicole and I press on, until as we approach the southerly end, my leg suddenly disappears through the snow into the mud. I reach for an old stump and pull myself back to safety. Today the journey to the source is unsafe as the snow disguises the edge between firm bank and soft sediment. We turn back, saving this adventure for another day. I must address the signage issue soon.