The Fire Meets The Frost ...

“It is the life of the crystal,

the architect of the flake,

the fire of the frost,

the soul of the sunbeam,

This crisp winter air is full of it.”

     ~ John Burroughs

      ~ 1837-1921

     ~ “Winter Sunshine”

        ~ 1875

The fire of the frost and the soul of the sunbeam kiss at sunset as sun flares glide toward the snow, painting a fiery frozen beauty at one of the highest elevations at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

This is my abstract view of a snowy scene I shot soon after the historic January Blizzard of 2016.
In a winter shorn of snow until the blizzard, the storm plonked 31 inches of snow on nearby
Allentown in a 24 hour period.

 

The Bluebird of Happiness In Winter ...

“…So be like I, hold your head up high

Till you find a bluebird of happiness

You will find greater peace of mind

Knowing there’s a bluebird of happiness

And when he sings to you

Though you’re deep in blue

You will see a light creep through

And so remember this, life is no abyss

Somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness

 

For life is sweet, tender and complete

When you find the bluebird of happiness

You will find perfect peace of mind

Knowing there’s a bluebird of happiness

Two hearts beat as one

Beneath a new found sun

We are in a world that’s just begun

And you must sing his song, as you go along

When you find the bluebird of happiness …”

               ~ “Bluebird of Happiness”

            ~ composed in 1934 by Sandor Harmati, 

                    with words by Edward Heyman

    & additional lyrics by Harry-Parr-Davies

            ~ recorded by American operatic tenor

            Jan Peerce & other artists

A sweet and beautiful male Eastern Bluebird seemingly poses while perched above the snow on a winter afternoon in early February at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

 

Winter Falls Upon Monocacy ...

“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing …”

     ~ John Muir

      ~1838-1914

The cold winter waters of the Monocacy Creek spill over Monocacy Falls in a cascading dance on a beautiful February afternoon at Monocacy Park, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, three days after the region was blanketed with 27.3 inches of snow.