Quiet Thanksgiving Days by the Lake

A few quiet days around home for Thanksgiving in 2016. The first snow had arrived, covering the hillsides and the forest floor. For the first day or so, the sky was a solid grey lid, making the lake water look dark and heavy.

I walked along one of the streams that feeds the lake. It was quiet, with the snow muffling most sounds. The water was dark and reflective, just starting to get a thin layer of ice along the banks where the current was slow.

Then the weather completely changed. The next day broke clear and incredibly bright. The lake was like glass, reflecting the snow-covered mountains perfectly. A low mist was rising off the surface in the morning sun, and the ducks were out on the calm water.

It was the same in the forest, with the bright sun cutting through the tall pines and making the snow on the rocks glitter. It was just a normal few days, watching the light change as the season settled in.