Winter Right on Cue

Enjoyed seeing the last minutes of bare ground at Egg Rock in Concord this past Sunday afternoon...

...while awaiting the arrival of Old Man Winter.  This year the old fellow preferred arriving per the meteorological calendar (December 1) rather than the traditional date (December 21), and quietly set up shop at 3:15 pm when the first flakes were noted at Nashawtuc Road Bridge...

The Old North Bridge waited for the snow to get more serious...

However, the thin layer of ice in front of the Old Manse boathouse did bear witness to the flakes...

After leaving the river my drive home was a snowy one.  Concord Center was bustling with folks enjoying the town's Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting while the snow provided ideal conditions.

Following two subsequent mornings with snow shoveling on my agenda, I returned yesterday to where winter made landfall...and assessed the changes.

Egg Rock wore its new look well...

...as did its inscription...

Ascended the Assabet as the trees appeared to bow before me...

...and the Leaning Hemlocks looked sugar-coated...

Back on the Concord River the Old North Bridge looked elegant in white...

The ice tongue at the boathouse had expanded...

The Minuteman may have wished for a warmer jacket...

The landing at Great Meadows...

A riverside home I've long envied needed only some smoke arising from its chimney...

Finally, when it was time to turnaround and head back upriver...a ruckus arose in the woods upon the arrival of this guy...

...who quickly resumed work on his latest project.  Possibly, further into winter, this soon-to-be oblong opening will house a cluster of eggs.

I left the river with a little more appreciation for Old Man Winter's artistic capabilities...

...especially when viewed from the river.