January 28, 2026
It is hard to look at the 10-day forecast and see so many single digits in a row. From the looks of things, it does not look like there will be a January thaw this year. There will be no walks around the yard, looking for signs of hope now that the day light is growing stronger. Everything is covered with such a thick layer of snow, it will be a long time before those green shoots even dare to peek above ground.
Yes, the snow is heavy and deep. That is true, but snow cover in January is normal. It is what nature intended in order to keep plant life safe beneath the heavy cover of insulation. I am wondering if the rosemary safely buried by the front door will survive this latest arctic blast. I have never been lucky about overwintering it, but this might be the year. Yes, there are many reasons to be thankful for the snow. It makes everything look so much prettier especially the day after a storm when the sun comes out and dazzles everything as if with a magic wand. There is nothing like the sight of a red cardinal perched on a white blanketed pine branch. It flits to the birdfeeder for some seed. Soon, it is joined by a blue jay and then so many other species. They seem to get along in their shared mission, proving that anything is possible.
Winter can be a beast and it can be a burden, but it is also awesome in its own way. Hidden in the heart of the thorny quince, a single bird sings its heart out for anyone lucky enough to hear. It seems to be a one bird cheering squad telling us that it survived the storm, and we can too. I feel thankful for its hopeful message.
Yes, we can be mesmerized by the beauty of a winter’s day so much so that we might forget that just under the surface lies a sheath of treacherous ice. With the shoveling of steps and sidewalks, with the clearing of driveways and cars and the canceling of school and work plans…it can be easy to forget about … ice. We may feel safe today from its slippery grasp, but that does not mean it will be so tomorrow. We can only hope and pray for the day that it all melts into a puddle and floats away. I have to believe that love is stronger than hate. If a bird can sing after a fierce winter storm, then maybe we too will. Keep a good heart and remember … “Hope Springs Eternal.”
