Winter arrived. Even though the calendar said the official season was two months away, winter came today with a blast of icy chill. At noon, temperatures dropped from 37 degrees to a bone-chilling 25 degrees, and snow fell. It started with a fine misty layer that filled the air with tiny white crystals. Thirty minutes later, the flakes covered the grass and bushes.
"I figure a generous inch," said Tara, looking at the weeping cherry tree near her front door about 2 p.m.
By 6 p.m. the plow had been by twice, three inches of icicles plunged from the edge of her roof, a blanket of white draped across the truck hood and roof, a couple inches of heavy powder balanced on the telephone wire and all the bushes wore white cloaks. The lights flickered once, and I gathered up a few already burned candles and jacked up the heat. It was going to be a long night.
The world outside every window was a pristine white winter wonderland, with five inches blanketing the ground and more huge flakes coming down in gentle sheets as night settled in.
