Dear Friends of Greeenspace-Alliance,
Please find some Solstice notes.
 
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Winter Solstice Notes 2009
 
Prelude – Dec. 19~20
 
The mid-Potomac River region receives a record amount of snow for a December storm, some 18” - 22”.  Feels that way too shovelling this snow. Looking out the windows on Sunday morning, December 20, we wondered whether we were in the Northland of the Ottawa River region or in the Southland of the mid-Potomac River region.
 
In the midst of this snow, I am thinking that this is a bracing punctuation (!) to the Copenhagen Climate Conference. Northwind and Southwind reminding we human inhabitants of nature to learn to live in better relations with each other in our Earth home.
 
I’ll be sending further letters to our government representatives to encourage effective reductions in our over-heating of the Earth. We all live on islands, small and large. We are involved with fellow islanders’ well-being.  
 
Seems remarkable that there is now a confirmed general agreement on our interrelatedness, though doubters and laggers remain, mostly to protect self-centered positions.
 
Solstice Day ~ December 21, 2009
 
Continuing colder temperatures. Snow may be with us through December.
 
Muscles and tendons feeling sore from two days of snow shovelling. I asked a young fellow in neighborhood to do the remainder of shovelling of the public sidewalk along front yard. He is happy to be helpful and make some holiday season cash.
 
This may be a colder Winter with more snow. I’ve been thinking of Spring too.  Spring Peepers, American Toads, Wood Frogs and fellow amphibians may be able to enjoy clear Vernal Pools from the gradual melting of snow in March.  There has been a lack of snow melt here for the past couple of Spring seasons.
 
Best wishes for Winter and Spring in Northern and Southern places of our Earth home.
 
Lorne Peterson
Spring Branch valley
Eastern Piedmont Hills
mid-Potomac River region
Turtle Island