Wild weather we've been having! Below zero with winds one day then 50 degrees and rain the next. What's a mother to do?
It's often quite challenging for me to find a photo and words each week. But I like to think that people at least look at this stuff before crinkling the paper up for fire starters.
So, when I wasn't quite sure what would turn up for this week's weather, I defaulted to “Mitchell-files-in-a-box-under-the-bed” archives.
“Take a flier” ol' Mitch,” says I, “Go for the old slides.”
The image I have chosen was made many, many years ago when we lived on Barters Island. Late '70s, I'd guess. It's from an area that, to this day, remains special for me -- passing over Back River at the Knickerbocker bridge to Hodgdon Island.
There used to be a funky little bridge that crossed onto land next to the Francis lobster pound. I've made countless photographs nearby over the years and still go back now and then. On this particular morning, I left home early heading off toward town and noticed, coming down the hill to the bridge, a wonderful array of crystalline coated everything. Hoarfrost!
I had seen it before as a kid walking the long frigid trudge to school (didn't we all suffer that lengthy trek?), but did not pay particular attention, nor did I know what it was, or care.
But, this scene was pretty neat. It looked like powdered sugar on all the old weeds. I made one photograph and “poof," like magic, it was gone. I'm not sure why it happens and even less sure about why it goes away. But it just vaporized. No slow melt, no detectable wind, just gone.
Joan Wilde, an old and dear friend of ours, particularly enjoyed this scene. She said it made her smile. Me too.
Happy, merry, holy mackerel best for everyone. Be careful out there.