Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Snow-flakes” (1863)
Yesterday we had a fresh snow. People often comment on how snow covers everything in a blanket of white, hiding the mud and the muck. But on my walk, it struck me how much it reveals. Much like raking sunlight, the way it falls highlights things that normally are less noticed; lines in the grasses, the lay of the land in the distance… I snapped a few photos on the way.
The snow begs a fresh look at the pattern of meandering branches.
A puff of white in the thicket lead me to a nest.
Last years beech leaves, papery and sun bleached, brought to mind ice cream spilling out of so many cones.
But what thrilled me most about the revelatory power of snow was this big oak tree I’ve admired many times. I had never noticed that wonderful dramatic twist in the trunk before yesterday’s snow.
Now, if you look closely at the photograph, there may be one more surprise. Somebody ran ahead and is patiently waiting.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
These are exactly the things that make every trip into nature stunning. The subtle patterns you glimpse that underlie all life. Appreciate it. This is at the heart of mindfulness for me. Noticing. Thanks for reminding us, Dave.
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Hi Chip! (I think that is the dog’s name). Thanks for presenting the idea of snow revealing things to us. Wonderful reflection for days like today.
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You got it — Chip.
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Thanks David, very nice scenery and thoughts, and I see your dog behind the log.
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Dave, I’m not sure who wrote this but it has stuck with me ever since coming across it on a hike many years ago.
It’s not reaching your destination that counts, it’s what you discover along the way. Treasure the journey.
Every hike or walk I go on is about what I observe.
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