A Wonderful Winter Solstice Season, however you do or don't observe and celebrate it. - Montague

This second blog in the series deals a relationship that has faltered and an attempt by Lucy Snowe to distance herself from it and deal with her grief_ by a symbolic burial. Then_ she is confronted with an apparition.

montaguewhitsel.blogspot.com/2025/10/gard...

Finally got this blog finished and posted. Richard Harter Fogle's book on Hawthorne had an amazing impact on my emerging poetics in the early 80's. Here I explore and expand on some of the interesting text from Hawthorne's "The Custom House."
montaguewhitsel.blogspot.com/2025/08/hawt...

A tarrying place along a small mountain stream, where I would go to meditate at the Vernal Equinox. When the water was low, one would be able to sit on that flat rock in the stream amidst the flowing water. Haven't been there for a couple years; it still holds a dear place in my mind. -MW

FIRST SNOW (III)
I remembered walks I've taken over the years -- once or twice taking the day off from work -- and regretting I had not brought my camera along. So here are some pics from years ago, on just such a walk after a First Snow.

There were trees with still-clinging yellow and red leaves, which stood out from the whitening tapestry falling upon and around them_
[These pics from a walk after a "First Snow" in 2015]

FIRST SNOW
Today we really had the First Snow after yesterday's tantalizing tease! As I walked to work the snow was coming down, covering everything and creating a white wonderland where there is usually just the ordinary houses, buildings, alleys and trees. (These pics are from a walk in 2015)

We saw our first snow here in western Pennsylvania today; not much more than a few big wet flakes mixed in with a misting rain, but it got me into that 'First Snow' mood and reminded me of this moment from a Winter Solstice morning in 2016.