There was a blanket of white when I got up.  It was a dusting–maybe an inch.  Through the back kitchen window I saw the ground and trees were completely white.  I immediately put some sunflower seed on my platform bird feeder and I am watching a brilliant red cardinal partaking of his meal.  This was the first snowfall of the season.  December and January have been mild so far–thirties and forties most of the time.  There has been no deep, extended “arctic” freeze so far.  I was delighted to see the snow.

The Juniata River has ice floes flowing throughout it. It has been two weeks since it turned cold. There would have to be an Arctic freeze (under twenty degrees everyday) for two or three weeks in a row for the surface of the river to become solid. We are not there yet. We will see: there is still January and February to go. Meanwhile our heating bills will remain high, nevertheless.