The January Thaw

Just as each fall brings an Indian Summer, each winter brings a January Thaw. Today the temperature made it up to the mid-50's and I was outside in shirt sleeves, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

The colors on the farm are still winter (not spring) colors: mostly brown tones, with a few greens mixed in where some plants are trying to get an early start.

The sun is still low in the south, casting its golden glow over brown fields at the end of the day.

The top layers of frozen earth have melted, leaving the driveways soupy and requiring the wearing of boots.

The creek is full from the combination of recent rains and melting snow and ice - and the occasional item picked up by the current from some neighbor upstream.

The setting sun creates stick-figure silhouettes from the neighbors' trees. Another couple of months and the trees will leaf out and spring will be here again.