H-bond magic

This past weekend we opted to chance the weather-induced road closures, jumped in the truck and drove to Tahoe. We sat somewhere on I-80 waiting for the road closure to be lifted for a good 3 hours. We were antsy, our feet tapping. Last week's storm dusted the Sierra with 3-4 feet of perfect little snow crystals.

Every year I am constantly amazed at the perfection of each little 6-armed hydrogen-bonded buddy. I sometimes choose one way up in the sky and try to catch it in my mouth as it falls. I roll around and make snow angels and snow chairs. I dip my candy cane in for a snow dessert. The gentle flakes fall onto my lashes and slowly melt.

So on Sunday, I could only surrender to my need for snow. I hiked through thigh-deep powder with snowshoes, built a snow bed and gazed up at the sky, the trees heavy with diamonds, the ravens.