The Thaw is definitely on the wane, and though the sun came out for a while, the forecast looks temporarily ominous, with a fair amount of snow in the offing tomorrow. So there was work to be done outside on the wood pile, but after I'd gotten things more or less in order—and ready for whatever the return to winter would dish out—I went for a quick walk to the back woods stream, the one named long ago in honor of my son Noah—and delighted in the rush of unfrozen water. In a particularly favored spot, the current had created a froth of large bubbles: a kind of natural effervescence that added a touch of good cheer to the day. In these trying political times, we need all the good cheer we can find. I captured the moment and smiled. It'll be nice to have this memory in my photographic database where I can invoke it whenever my spirits need a boost.