Winter Storm Pax, Part One....

We are having more snow this year! Winter Storm Pax, so named by the Weather Channel, is aiming straight through us here in South Carolina, and we have begun today with a lovely 2 inches of snowfall....

The early, early beginning of the snow, up by the lake...
the ducks are out and paddling in the water - if you look closely you can see them.

An attempt at seeing the ducks a bit better through the snow falling...

So, we sat and watched the snow pile up out on the deck...

With continual forays up to the lake to see how it was going...

And it was going nicely!

The lake swiftly became a showcase for the snow....

....with the soft snow clinging to every branch....

...making exquisite contrasts of the darker branches against
the white and grey world.

Wordweaving ventured up to the lake to join me, which
ended up producing the most adorable picture of her,
ever!!!

Saw the snow against the deep evergreens that contrasted so
incredibly with the crisp whiteness....

And as always, some of the last of the rich red berries....

By late afternoon the snow had paused, leaving an
altered world in its wake....

There was no where to look that was not simply
stunning, visually!

The snow is still there, now, and has not melted...

I remember the words from Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame,
describing from Mole's perspective the change in the woods after the snow began to fall....
"Holes, hollows, pools, pitfalls, and other black menaces to the wayfarer were vanishing fast, and a gleaming carpet of faery was springing up everywhere, that looked too delicate to be trodden upon by rough feet. A fine powder filled the air and caressed the cheek with a tingle in its touch, and the black boles of the trees showed up in a light that seemed to come from below."
This is the world that I saw today, transformed and transformational...

Of course I did not go on these adventures alone - MacDubh accompanied
me, wearing his Spiffy Winter Coat! He enjoys snow, and thinks its great fun!

Ibn, the cat however....
Ibn thinks the only place a civilized cat should go potty is outside. No litterpans for him!
However, he loathes snow. Despises it. He grumbled all the way out the door....

Long pause of total disgust - "Really? Seriously? %$#@"

He did accomplish his business, and immediately teleported back to the door
with the demand to be let in NOW, this INSTANT! Poor Ibn...more
snow is on the way! 

 And there is more snow on the way - a lot more. We keep getting varied and changing reports, but by all accounts, there is a lot more snow and some ice heading this way, at least 9" according to various forecasts, maybe more, is possible tomorrow....

Meanwhile....

In the brief pause between the storms, the moon has come out,
and all the world is draped in magic, and silence and sacred light under
its blanket of snow...

The snow in its soft covering blesses all, turning a simple
familiar landslide into something wonder full, and holy...

This is part one - tomorrow the magic will continue to grow - for us, at any rate, it is magical, because it is so very rare for us to get snow like this here in the southern lands. 

May blessings go with all travelers who must be out and about these next few days

and may we be given eyes to see the beauty all around us...
and be transformed...