2025 · Our Forest · Our Yard · Winter

Snow In Southern New England (2)

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Winter

Winter Wonderland (4)

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Winter

Sunrise On The First Day of Winter/Yule 2025

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

2025 · Winter

Winter Solstice/Yuletide 2025

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

Our ancestors depended on the passage of time and seasons. And the best way to measure the seasons was by observing the Sun and the Earth’s orbit around it. The winter solstice is the time of the year when the Sun is reborn, announcing a new season.

On December 21, the day is shorter as the Sun seems to stand still at a lower elevation, making the night longer. But it is a transition period that ushers in a new season of more sunlight. Yule celebrations used to be tied with different pagan traditions, bordering on mythology and culture. Popular notions include the myth of the goddess giving birth to the Sun god. There is also the celebration of the surrender of power from the Holly King to the Oak King. Plus, the ancient festival of the Germanic people about the Wild Hunt and the god Odin is also around the same time.

All the above form the crust of the Yule celebration. But, as stated earlier, it is even more symbolic in that it helped our ancestors to determine times and seasons. Understanding times and seasons was usually the difference between life and death, food availability and famine, victory and defeat, and many other things. With the introduction of Christianity, the Yule celebration has been linked with Christmas traditions too. It’s thought that December 25 was chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ because it is the renewal period. Yule and Christmas both share certain similarities, and they often overlap as well.

:https://nationaltoday.com/yule/

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

2025 · National Day Calendar · Winter

Flake Appreciation Day 2025

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

Snowflakes are a subject of thought and appreciation on Flake Appreciation Day. The event is celebrated around December when snow begins to fall in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Snowflakes can be classified into one of 35 different shape groups based on their size and shape. When water vapor in the clouds condenses into ice crystals, snowflakes spontaneously appear in nature. Snowflakes’ shapes are influenced by elements such as dust, temperature, humidity, and air currents.

There are different numbers of water molecules in snowflakes, which cause them to form a crystal pattern. Due to diffuse reflection, snowflakes appear white, even though they are composed of clear ice. Snowflakes are usually studied by putting a chemical compound on a glass plate and allowing a flake to land on the plate. The chemical compound covers the snowflake and hardens. The snowflake leaves its shape behind after it melts.

The history of snowflakes was greatly influenced by Wilson Bentley. He was born in 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. His work is significant as he helped discover that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. He used a type of photography that uses microscopes called photomicrography to take pictures of 5,000 snowflakes. Bentley published articles and books about his findings and donated some of his photographs to the Smithsonian Institution. He was the world’s leading snowflake expert and was referred to as β€˜The Snowflake Man’ until he died in 1931.

:https://nationaltoday.com/flake-appreciation-day/

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Winter

Winter Sunrise In New England (2)

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

2025 · Winter

Winter Wonderland (3)

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Our Forest · Our Yard · Winter

Snow In Southern New England (1)

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Winter

Winter Sunrise In New England (1)

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„β˜€β„

2025 · Winter

Winter Wonderland (2) β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„

2025 · Our Forest · Our Yard · Winter

First Snow of The Season 2025/2026

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

First, the meteorologists mentioned 3-6 inches of snow for our area. But the weather system stayed further north. We were lucky; we got about an inch.

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒ

2025 · Winter

New England Winter Afterglow In December (1)

β„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„

β„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„πŸŒžβ„

2025 · Winter

Winter Wonderland (1) β˜ƒ

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„

Winter in Texas (2004, 2007)

β„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„β˜ƒβ„

2025 · Christmas · Winter

Hello, December 2025!

πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²

Wintry mornings wrapped in white,
Evening, calm and still,
Snowflakes dancing all around,
Sled rides down a hill,
Gatherings with loved ones β€”
Such a pleasure to remember β€”
all memories and special gifts
That comes with each December.

πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²πŸŽ„πŸŒ²

2025 · Autumn · Winter

Goodbye, November 2025!

πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„

When two seasons collide: this is what it looked like in December 2013.

πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„πŸπŸ‚β˜ƒβ„