“Want to see my etchings?” …

11-30-15

… was the question posed yesterday by Mr. Jack Frost when I stepped outside to a landscape tinged with a light coat of ice everywhere.  “Sure” I said, so I promptly admired those intricate crystallized sketches that were on the glass of both storm doors.  Each design was different – beautiful, delicate and seemingly etched into the glass, all a sight to behold until the sun would put in an appearance.  But, there was no sun yesterday, and, when I returned from my Sunday stroll, the etchings were still visible and I was able to once again marvel at Mr. Frost’s handiwork.

This morning he met me at the door once again and when asked to view today’s renditions,  I once again nodded appreciably, but today the sun was out – a brilliant blue sky complete with sunbeams shooting down from the Heavens.  Once again ol’ Jack Frost’s handiwork was excellent – not only were those beautiful etchings making an encore visit, he had scattered glitter all over the sidewalks.  Those pretty, iridescent crystals were everywhere, but it made it a little slickery to walk.  I had to take baby steps at first, until I felt a little more confident in my stride, and occasionally, little patches of black ice intervened amid those winking crystals and caught me by surprise.  I walked down to the footbridge, stepping ever so carefully and certainly not winning any speed records for my efforts, but taking small strides I got ‘er done.

On the return trip, the sun was high in the sky, and despite a wind chill in the 20s, that sun had melted the glittery covering on the sidewalk as well as Jack Frost’s etchings on the door – they all had vanished without a trace and the sidewalks and driveway were once again clear and dry.

Perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me and he and his artwork were but an illusion?

Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty, if only we have the eyes to see it. – John Ruskin

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About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
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4 Responses to “Want to see my etchings?” …

  1. Marge Aubin's avatar Marge Aubin says:

    Don’t you wish we could capture the sparkling designs on canvas. I never saw a true picture of the frost even though you picture is very close to it.

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    • Linda Schaub's avatar lindasschaub says:

      It would be a beautiful picture Marge – there were some pretty impressive designs on the front door yesterday – the back not so much. This morning … very pretty sprinkles like a glittery card, but a little slick to walk, especially on top of the leaves. Then poof – all gone.

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  2. ann marie stevens's avatar ann marie stevens says:

    Miss Linda……………….wow I sure like Ruskin’s quote……………………..a reminder to myself to look at the beauty all around me……………………I’m back to walking………….in fact I tried walking this morning but there was a constant mist………..so I petered out………………I found Eucalyptus oil at Meijer without looking……………….I came upon it in the pharmacy and have put it also all around my house to keep away those aracinids……………………………

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    • Linda Schaub's avatar lindasschaub says:

      You are a better person than me Ann Marie trying to walk in the rain – I stayed inside yesterday. But I did go out this morning – there was freezing fog – it was quite pretty actually as I walked over by Ford Field … the grass was covered in ice for two solid blocks and very foggy. I am a little reluctant to walk at Council Point Park – their walking trail is asphalt and there often is black ice. I nearly wiped out there two years ago. Glad you are out of pain and back to walking again.

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