Author: Laura, Great River School

Location: Near Merriam Park in St Paul, MN

Weather: Partly cloudy, cold

Temp: 25 degrees Fahrenheit
Snow covers everything. It is a shock to be back out here, when only two weeks ago I was observing the number of leaves the trees had lost. Now the trees are black skeletons, leafless and looking as though they will never bear leaves again. The skeletons are padded with patches of snow. They are not deep yet, but I predict that by mid-January they will sag on the tree branches in thick drifts. The ground is solidly covered. The cold makes it almost painful to be out here. It is impossible to smell, because every breath of air freezes your nose. For now the snow is white and pristine.