Sun and Broken Branches

A few days ago the weather report warned about “freezing fog” occurring during the overnight. I don’t recall encountering freezing fog before, but sure enough the next morning the trees were coated with frost. The next couple of nights were marked by fog so thick we could not see to the boundaries of our two acres. The coyotes seem more active during a foggy evening, and will come closer to the house than usual. Last month we had some freezing rain come through and cake our trees with ice. Several large branches came down as well as hundreds of small ones, making a real mess. The upside was the next morning while the dogs and I were walking around the acreage assessing the damage, the sun began to melt the ice. Everywhere the tinkling of ice falling from the trees and crashing to the ground could be heard. The sunlight made all of the trees sparkle brilliantly as they shed their ice coats. I stopped several times and just watched and listened. As the day continued to warm, the ice that still clung to the trees began to melt until it seemed to be raining under them. The sunshine grew warmer, and the tree raining increased. Finally what was left were shattered pieces of ice melting under the trees and the warmth making short work of them. Soon all was gone but the sun and broken branches.