It was the second weekend in January, before the year had turned tragic by the unexpected loss of my father. The wind howled outside, and freezing rain had turned to snow in the night. 

I awoke to cloudy skies with a hint sunlight streaming through the windows. The light was a pleasant contrast from the dark heavy clouds from the day before. Opening the curtain to peer outside, I was excited to see the trees still covered in fresh snow. Suddenly feeling energized, I hurried downstairs for a brief breakfast and coffee. It was the first big storm of the winter, combining heavy ice and snow. With such a warm winter season, earlier snow had quickly melted off the trees by morning. This morning it was still cold enough to keep the snow from melting off. I quickly brushed off my car and set out to experience the magic of this beautiful winter morning in Maine.

I started up the street to the waterfall, a common starting point for me and a good place to look for ducks. I was amazed by what I found. The washed rushed over the falls and roared along down river. The force of the water caused a heavy spray to rise above river as it crashed below. The river was lined by frosted white evergreens  and the sun was still fighting to break through thick grey clouds. 

The snow crunch under my boots as I made my way closer to the river. I thought of what my grandmother used to say. “Welcome to my Winter Wonderland” she would tell us after snow storms like this. These are my favorite winter days, where the ice clings to the trees and sunlight refracts through making them shine like diamonds. The songs of tiny songbirds fill the air as they flutter among the snow covered branches. The sound of the crashing falls were as intense as the mist created upon impact. I have never seen the waterfall look so powerful and majestic.

Moving further down the river I ventured down to an unused set of railroad tracks. The white bark covering the birch trees blended in to the snow covered path. The tracks lead across the river into the distant trees with the rushing waters below.

The water continued to flow under the railroad tracks, around the bend downstream. The skies are starting to clear, and the snow is starting to fall off the branches as the day warms. I made it just in time.