Jan 1, 2010 by Naomi.

The beauty, complexity, and diversity of snow crystals are well known through technology. I have neither the equipment nor the patience, not even the desire to do more than appreciate the sparkle of a natural phenomena, but when a snowfall requires sweeping, shoveling or photographing I have to admit there is great satisfaction in knowing that technology developed by humans makes knowledge accessible about those snow crystals or anything else I want to learn. Hooray for the scientists, research papers, books, and libraries that store them.

This is poetry for snow flakes by Henry David Thoreau, 1856

“How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated!

I should hardly admire more if real stars fell

and lodged on my coat.”

But knowing what stars are, poor Henry would hardly have been able to admire anything if a star fell on him. How astute for him to understand the air was responsible for the ice at all!

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Jan 1, 2010 by Naomi.

Seven am before first light, I have shoveled off the front walk and de-iced that and the back step. The step was slick when I went out at 5 am but I have a bag of de-icer in my car so I did the deed. A thin crust of ice laid over the fluffy snow of yesterday and maybe even last night. I shoveled the walk to the sidewalk and in front of my lot. Wade had sprinkled de-icer on his part so at least we look alive and civilized on Abbot Street. The fresh air is invigorating and the work felt good. Now the sky is clear and the still quite-full moon is brilliant in the western sky. I took off my front curtain and replaced it with a vining green on white material that I bought to cover my easy chairs. So much cherrier and furthermore I put it up only half way up the window so daylight will come in, sunny or not. Same in the kitchen north window. I have a blind there but it pulled from the bottom up leaving the kitchen exposed when it was up and I do not always completely dress when I get up for breakfast so I fixed that. Now the curtain is on the bottom half and I will not have to move it up or down, dressed or not. There is some traffic on the street. Wade left at 0630, I figure for coffee or breakfast. He was up melting the ice on his walk at 0430. But it looks like we are the only ones up and about. Because it is New Year’s Day I think all businesses are closed and why not sleep in? I had tomato juice, coffee and a few almonds but oatmeal is now in order. I set little Shiba on my puzzle table and am beginning to write. The Great American Novel? Why not?

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