Rime Ice - Great Inspiration!

Hello!

You know those days when you find yourself dragging your heals because you can?...Many would say...lazy....Well I was having one of those days today...really moving slow because I didn't have anything on my platter until noon...so it wasn't until quite late in the morning that I finally stuck my head out the door and decided to walk the dog.  Wow!  The view was literally breath taking! 

Our neighbors across the street have a beautiful willow and it was silhouetted in the sunshine with snow drifting out of its branches.  Luckily I was able to catch this while fumbling with gloves, dog leash and my phone!  As I walked closer I noticed that the poles people stick in the edges of their lawns to show the snow plows where to stop - were covered in precision cut crystals.  In fact, it was a very particular kind of crystal formation...rime ice.  I had taught a unit about this when teaching school children.  Great to see in person. Rime ice forms under just the right conditions and apparently we had just that the night before.

Later today we drove into Spokane, Washington and went through dense fog along the way.  Fog is one of the conditions that must exist in order for rime ice to form so I am pretty sure that is what it is...as much of it is still around tonight since it stayed cool and many places even cooler because they are shaded from what sun we did get.

For more information on rime ice do a google search or follow this link:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?14714-Ice-crystals!

I have a felting project that is now inspired by this formation...I am not sure I can get anything close to the precision cut look of the crystals today...but I am going to try and get as close to the idea as I can...more to come on this project later...  In the meantime, I am finishing felting Christmas gifts which I am not posting since my relatives monitor my blog :) and would see them.  Also I got hired today to teach some classes in January.  WhooHoo!

Hope you are enjoying the Season and the weather wherever you may be,
Janet