Moonlight on snow - the breathtaking beauty of a full moon in a northern winter.

[scarletwoman]

It's a crystal clear cloudless sky here -- just a bit north of the 45th parallel -- which means it's cold, of course. But not so bad really, not even down to zero. Close enough, though, so that the snow crunches and squeaks under my boots as I walk my dog. Here, in the late hours of the night, I don't need to carry a flashlight to see my way on the path meandering through the trees, the moonlight shining on the snow is so bright.

This is one of my greatest pleasures, the full moon in winter. The silvery blue light so bright that it casts shadows as strong as sunlight, and every track laid in the snow by animal and boot stands out in stark relief.

The arc of each full moon follows the path of the sun at the opposite side of the year. The full moon tonight -- just one & and a half weeks past the winter solstice -- is travelling across the sky at the same height as the sun travels at the same interval past the summer solstice. As high in the sky that the sun is in mid-summer, this is how high in the sky the moon is tonight.

I love the full moon in winter, reflecting on the snow, transforming the landscape into a brilliant silver-drenched otherworld. Happy New Year to you all.

sw

[babylonsister]

1. ...

:loveya:


Thanks so much. You painted a glorious picture!

[scarletwoman]

11. Thank you, babylon sis!

:hug:

[SharonAnn]

2. Thanks for the beautiful imagery. I remember winter nights like that in northern Iowa

when I was growing up. Squeaking boots on the snow with still, crystalline air and the incredible moonlight!

[scarletwoman]

12. There's nothing like it, is there?

"Crystalline air" -- thanks for that. You definitely know what I'm talking about.

[Sal Minella]

22. Four below zero here in northwest Iowa right now --

Forecast for tomorrow is four above zero.

There's a curtain of icicles hanging from the edge of the kitchen roof and the moonlight in their ripples is very bright. The reaching shadows of the naked oak trees are splaying in all directions on the brilliant snow. (We have about two feet of snow on the ground.)

We have no wind, no sound, just brilliant moonlight on snow, bright as daylight, with nothing moving out there.

Wishes for peace and a better year ahead for all of us . . .

[scarletwoman]

26. "no wind, no sound, just brilliant moonlight on snow, bright as daylight.."

There's really nothing like it, is there? The world becomes a totally magical place -- so still, so beautiful!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. What a beautiful essay!

Thank you...

Your eloquent words take me there.

K&R

Happy New Year!

[scarletwoman]

14. I've lived in California, but eventually I couldn't give up the northern winters.

I finally realized I'm a northern girl, and I absolutely have to live someplace where I'll be guaranteed to freeze my ass off for a good part of the year. :D

Happy New Year!

sw

[K8-EEE]

4. Sounds pretty!! Happy New Year from snow-free L.A.!! n/t

[Parker CA]

5. No need for a photo, that was perfect.

[depakid]

6. How excellent is that sounds

[lunatica]

7. Here in the Bay Area (Oakland) it is lighting up the clouds

Today was cloudy and it rained. But tonight there are cotton ball raggedy clouds moving past the full moon. I see the Man In The Moon clearly and I can see the trees and clouds plainly in the light everywhere I look. The Moon is lighting up the clouds around it brightly in a clear white glow. I tried to see the blue in it but it just looks white. Beautiful. From my porch I watch it through a tree, nicely framed by the twig branches and a few autumn leaves still clinging to the Maple tree.

Thanks for the poetry.

[Captain Hilts]

8. I love the northern winter sky. Thanks for this. nt

[hlthe2b]

9. I do too... I wish I'd been able to go up to the mountains tonight

but will have to settle for the sky over Denver. Crisp and clear but with snow cover still preserved in the park and in the yards for my pup to burrow her nose deep within. I too love winter time for the peaceful beauty it brings.

Happy New Year Scarletwoman

[scarletwoman]

Happy New Year, hlthe2b!

There's something so renewing about winter -- having that time of stillness. I couldn't live without it.

[HipChick]

10. Great description...but I can't do snow

its 87F here..prob get up to 95F+ tomorrow

[mzmolly]

13. It IS a beautiful moon, and a lovey, crisp winters night

SW. Your description makes the cold night air, much more inviting. :hi:

[scarletwoman]

16. I have to tell you, my 6 years in Alaska made me totally LOVE winter.

Weird as it may sound. :P

Minnesota winters are a piece of cake now, almost disappointing, they've been so mild lately. Living WAY up north you have to either embrace winter or go nuts. So I got into it -- winter camping in the Talkeetna mountains, night time cross-country skiing for miles in the moonlight, mushing dogs at 20 below. No mosquitos!

I'm never sorry to see winter come, and I'm always sad to see it end. It helps, of course, to live out in the country -- I don't think I'd be anywhere near as fond of winter if I lived in the city.

:hi:
sw

[mzmolly]

30. Good for you!

My husband says winter camping is a blast, though I've never found the idea inviting. Given the lack of mosquitos, I may have to try it at least once. ;) Living in the country sounds lovely too. :D

[postulater]

15. I like the echo of the trees popping when it gets so cold they split.

[scarletwoman]

17. And the pings and CRRRRAAAAACKKKS of the ice on a frozen lake.

Yes, there's nothing like living in a northern climate -- I wouldn't give it up for anything.

[Subdivisions]

18. An extremely rare New Years Eve blue moon. Absolutely dazzling in the winter night. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

19. I watched the moon rise over Superstition Mountain

with a few dogs barking and a couple coyotes yipping in the distance.

Enjoy your snow, and I'll enjoy my desert. :hi:



TG

[ConcernedCanuk]

20. No moon up here at the moment, but I did a barefoot walk in the snow

.
.
.

It's a balmy -5 Celsius up here

Last winter's "walk"



:silly:

[scarletwoman]

23. I hope it was because you had to really badly take a piss.

The only time I'm out barefoot in the snow is after a sauna. :)

[ConcernedCanuk]

28. No NO! - I hate lookin at yellow snow outside my door . .

.
.
.

I just like that fresh foot feeling

[madamesilverspurs]

21. Moonlight as poetry. Lovely!

And will dawn show the trees sparkling in pink frost?

---

[EFerrari]

24. Back atcha, my friend.

So good to see you.

[scarletwoman]

27. Thank you, dear friend.

I still read here almost daily. But I just can't bear jumping into the fray anymore. I have no energy for it. Still, I'd prefer not to completely fade away...

[EFerrari]

31. I just came back from running the dogs.

We're up in the east foothills and the moon is the only light right now, la bella luna. There are six or seven horses here and they are the real owners of this place. I take the dogs up the hill to where you can see down into the city and then back down about a mile to the gate where there is only a gravel road leading out eventually to the encroaching suburb. Sometimes at dusk, you can see the silhouette of one or two horses grazing on the hillside with the city lights behind them. I can't figure out if it's an ominous image or an encouraging one.

I always look for your posts and will.

[Desertrose]

25. and a happy full moon new year to you, too.

It's so bright the red rocks have color tonite!

Sounds beautiful there...I miss the crunchy snow and the air freezing in my nostrils....they are magical nights indeed!!

:loveya: sw :hug:
DR

[scarletwoman]

29. Ah, DR! How wonderful and lovely to *see* you!!!

I'm picturing those red rocks -- the desert southwest is one of my other favorite places! One of my most memorable full moon nights was spent in Chaco Canyon, some 13 or so years ago. When the moon is bright enough to see the colors of the landscape, it's a special night, indeed.

:loveya: :hug:
sw

[mike_c]

32. what lovely images....

Thank you, and happy new year!

[Spazito]

33. I love northern winters as well!

Last night was particularly breath-taking here as well (and not because it was -28 celsius, lol)! It was so still, you could hear footsteps crunching in the snow from a fair distance away and the moon gifted the snow with a shower of diamonds. I lived in the Yukon for many years and still love visiting there in the winter!

Thanks for this, it is much appreciated!

Recommended for your picture-perfect description!

[glitch]

34. Happy New Year Scarletwoman! Your words make a beautiful picture. nt

[bvar22]

35. Thank You for a beautiful picture.

We miss the spectacular beauty of the Minnesota Winters.
:hi:

[Martin Eden]

36. We live on a beautiful planet.

More people need to partake and reflect on the simple but profound pleasure you so eleoquently described. If they did, their values and their stewardship of this priceless resource would change for the better.

Happy New Year to you too :hug: