Wizardry

There is something powerful about the last two weeks of February as the sun's angles change in my woods.  

I live on the water and that in itself adds a wonderful energy.  The river is a mirror to everything that happens.  It freezes to a standstill when the weather is bitter cold and turns the light dull and gray.  It whips up yellow foam when the winds of winter and early spring decide to skate across its' blue-gray surface. It becomes a hidden buffer for the fog when it drifts low waiting for the sun to burn it away.  And, of course, it becomes the home and pantry to so many living things.

But on a sunny winter late in the afternoon and in late February my river can once again capture the reflection of the sun.  The sun has moved in its arc from behind the peninsula across the way and begins to set behind the farther piece of land giving me many more hours of golden sparkles across the water.  The surface of the water also acts like a mirror as it bounces light back 0nto the undersides of trees.  They get a warm glow with dramatic shadows that cannot be seen unless you are on the shore or on the water.  It is as if a wizard has angled his magic mirror to direct the light right into my back yard.

  
This wizard of light sends angles of gold and later reds against bark and dried leaves and brick walls changing them to magical paintings.  It it as if a dutch painter saw the light and was given his brush to add dramatic warmth.

There is not much that is beautiful this time of year, but this is worth waiting for before spring hides all the sun's rays with bright green leaves and dark shade.