Octavia's junco

After a one-day, semi-respite—as if winter tundra conditions, even though sunny, constitute balmy—we were paid a visit by Winter Storm Octavia. True, she was primarily a southern problem, due to a proclivity to spread ice, and here, we were just on the edge of her influence. With the cold still in place, the storm brought all snow, and since she didn't come as a gale, it was gentle, though beautifully thick, powder. I took a fine walk in the thick of things, and I had one inquisitive Junco for brief company. The weatherproof Fuji is not the best of bird cameras, but it more or less worked to capture the Junco, however not-quite-sharply focused, capturing me. Back home, there was shoveling to do, and after that, I was out on skis to revel in what I used to call "Green Wax Snow": the most perfect of conditions for which only a quick, thin coating of an easy-to-apply wax was necessary for proper traveling. I don't have to wax my skis anymore—they have fish-scale, waxless bottoms—but as I glided along effortlessly, thanking Octavia profusely, I thought about taking down the old dears, waxing them, and going for an old-fashioned jaunt. Maybe tomorrow. There's supposed to be a bit more snow.