Jaci Dawn

We are under an Arctic high pressure. What this means is the days are very cold, but the sun is shining. There’s a breeze most of the time, which accelerates the wind chill. Nighttime temps are in the teens and daytime temps hover at freezing.

I’ve been in much colder weather, but that isn’t really the point. We can have a “colder than you” contest and the Portland Metro area would lose, hands down. Even when it’s cold like this, it isn’t colder than (you name your location).

What is unique is this: the sun is shining. No grey clouds, no overcast, no rain, no freezing rain (we hope). Sunshine is good. Sunshine makes me happy (thank you John Denver). I can deal with this weather simply because there is this shining white orb in the sky that is actually visible during the daytime.

The “deep freeze” also offers this:

The small pond behind the office where I work is freezing over.

Icicles cling to green grass.

The moving water merges with the frozen, creating patterns and trapping autumn leaves.

Motion is frozen. (I rather like this photo of stopped motion!)

An icy cascade fringed by blooming heather.

Shadows on the ice. (Hmmm: including me!)

An icy riffle.

Green grass, grey rocks.

So beautiful.