WINTER'S BEAUTY

One of the reasons winter is my favorite time of year, and perhaps the topmost reason, is how the starkness of the snow highlights all that it surrounds.  I can't help but gasp at the beauty of each dark, bare tree against the horizon and how each seems to take on an inner life of 'stilled dance'.  I have been trying for years to capture what I feel and what the tree is, in words, and have yet to be able to do so.

In addition, I have a profound love of 'weeds' at all times of year, but especially in the winter.  Whenever I am hiking or skiing I feel overwhelmed by the beauty of each and every weed that is showcased by the surrounding pure white snow.  

There is a grace and a rhythm that each weed displays 

that makes me wonder if this isn't part of their purpose

Again, I fail to capture in words (as well as with my camera) the distinct and stunning beauty in this 'lowly' plant...

...lacy...filigreed...stark...graceful...stately...regal...

Not sure why I find this so beautiful, but I do!

I have yet to encounter a weed in my winter path that has not astounded me!

On another note, the birds are demanding a lot this frigid, sub-zero winter, and I am keeping my bird feeders, all four of them, filled each day...

much to my surprise one day last week as I was driving out of the driveway (our bird feeders are all suspended on our deck) I saw three very fat, very large 'birds' under the deck. 

Three of the four female pheasants that are at the feeder on a daily basis...

My outdoor dog doesn't seem to mind too much, although she might chase them into the nearby bushes when we are about...

Next trip to town I'll purchase some cracked corn and keep that tossed quite freely under the deck.  I feel this a blessing, these lovely, chubby hens.

FOOD AND MUSIC

These cold winter days lend themselves to thinking about warming up the kitchen and cooking up something wonderful.

I have become very fond of semolina gnocchi.  They are so versatile and add so much to any meal.  They are light and fluffy, reminiscent of very good mashed potatoes, but baked until crusty and browned. 

There are so many ways to serve these, but this night I choose to marinate pounded boneless chicken breasts in orange juice, Marsala (cooking wine), some grated orange rind, pinch of nutmeg and cardamon, salt and pepper.  Marinate briefly, as too long, say longer than 30 minutes, causes the chicken to break down too much.  

Dredge the chicken in flour, then in a beaten egg, then in fine bread crumbs.  Saute quickly in olive oil/butter as they cook quite rapidly.  Remove to a warm platter and keep warm while you drain all but about one tbs. of oil from pan.  Add the marinade and some butter, and cook until slightly reduced.

Place a chicken breast over gnocchi, drizzle the sauce over that...

and I added sauteed (olive oil and garlic) french green beans for a really outstanding, easy meal.

On another note, we traveled to Madison on Sunday to take in a Suzuki concert at the Rotunda of the Capitol building.  Iris is in  her first year of Suzuki lessons and spent the weekend with her parents and sister at a workshop for Suzuki students from all over the state.  

Great concentration and focus.  

The concert was wonderful, the music really lovely.  It is difficult to put into words what watching this young girl so devotedly take part and produce lovely music was like for me.  I am so proud of her.

HIKING ALONG THE RIVER

FINALLY!!!  Healed toe, healed 'pulled muscle' and no sub-sub-zero temperatures.  A lazy Sunday afternoon, an impromptu suggestion that we take a short hike along the river.  And according to our normal hiking standards, it was short, only about 1 1/2 hours...but filled with the kind of beauty that abounds here in the Kickapoo Valley.

...the river always looks so beautiful...

Standing here made me recall the days before this land was the Reserve, but only called 'the government' land, and we used to ride horse along this very cliff.

The color contrasts at this time of year are so visceral that one can hardly describe the beauty.

Long view of the river.

...and here, too...

I know the reason winter is my favorite season has to do with the contrast of bareness with the blacks and the whites.  My eyes continually seek the trees, bare and graceful against the snow, as though they are in some kind of ecstatic dance, flinging their limbs in outlandish joy.  My eyes never seem to get enough, and I am never full from seeing.  The trees keep speaking to me, and I want so badly to be able to articulate what they seem to be saying to me.  I have yet to capture it, perhaps one day.  As much as I wish everyone could share this beauty, I am also selfish in a way, and do not wish to so inundate this area that the beauty is lost in  commercialism.