We're waiting to see what the merging storms south and west of us will bring, and today we have very weak sunshine with some big, fluffy snowflakes floating down, zig-zagging through air currents to balance lightly atop the lacy snow covering our world. This morning I measured an inch of fairy flakes deposited on my snow board, but when I poured warm water over them in my pan, they vanished without resistance and when I measured for water content, there was none. So cold and so dry, this kind of snow is practically weightless and will probably mostly blow away before the heavier moisture-laden stuff begins to fall.

Our temperature was in the single numbers above zero last night, and has only reached 18 above on my office thermometer. The sun may have a little heat in it, but not much. Some weather person last night mentioned that January is known to be the coldest month here in Vermont, even though there is more sunlight. My theory is that the same dynamics are at work on the earth's surface as we know happens in other ways - like when the thermometer drops just as the sun is coming over the horizon, or your water pipes freeze on the day after it's been 30 below for a week. I think it's like freezing ice cream. I just know this stuff happens and maybe the earth responds the same only bigger. Oh, well, too much thinking this early in the day is not good, so I'll move on.

Fred is saying it's time to get outside and walk. He runs up Jamie's hill - I walk! I'm all for moderation - especially when it comes to exercise.