Thursday 27 December 2012

If you do not bend, you break

I took a walk yesterday. We had a ton of rain last week, then it turned to freezing rain, and then snow fell on top of that – all on the same day. The branches are heavily laden. Many are bending with the weight of the snow that sits on the branches.

These are life lessons. The trees, like the massive pines, bend with the weight of the snow. It was sudden. It took hours for each snowflake to fall. Each stuck to another, until the branches are heavily weighed down.

Like this 200-something pine tree with bent branches
Our forest holds many trees, some with branches broken off, others that have simply given up and snapped off.

Either you bend or you break
Most, however, are bent over like hunched over little old women whose lives have been a testament to how much they can change and bend. They have faced their life experiences and survived.
The birch trees, with their fine, ice-crusted outer branches,
bend with the weight. They are fragile.
Wednesday, Dec. 26th
Dorah wanted to play with the red ribbon.
Can you see her?!
She changed her mind. The snow is up to her armpits!
Spruce are disappearing in the snow.
This is Thursday, Dec. 27th
The blue spruce shelters many animals, with its burdened branches.

The cats hide in there; birds perch, keeping an eye out for cats and have their snacks; mice hunt for lost bird seed. 
I spotted wolf tracks on the driveway. I'm wearing hubby's size 9 snowmachine boot! 



Mourning doves hunker down in the bird feeder, whilst Bambi seeks scattered seed.
Bambi looks mournfully my way!


Are you a helper?
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 
― Fred Rogers

5 comments:

Powell River Books said...

That's a lot of snow! We are still bare in Bellingham, and Wayne only had a dusting at the cabin before Christmas. Wonder what winter has in store for us after the new year? - Margy

Red said...

Wet snow is a challenge for the trees. Sometimes I think it's natures pruners. Weak or diseased parts are taken off.
I hope you are safe during this storm and that you don't lose power.

Christine said...

beautiful snow photos Jenn, Happy New Year! We finally got a good dumping of snow in Toronto, I enjoyed shovelling.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Am I ever thankful for our brown Christmas.

Judy said...

Poor deer does not look happy!!! If the snow is up to Dorah's armpits, she should be glad she does not have long hair for it to stick to! One of these days, I will get a good shot of my walking snowball...