The First Frost
“First frost meant letting go, so it was always reason to celebrate.”
Sarah Addison Allen
Nothing announces winter’s arrival like the first frost!
It begins with a certain smell in the air. Inhaling deeply, I smell the scent of cold flint, dust and wood distinctly as if left in passing, leaving just a trace. The warm-spiced scents of Fall are gone now. Temperatures playfully dip and rise, giving no clue to when this event will arrive.
Finally, the evening news announces a low of 29 degrees Farenheit for the next day. Preparations begin. The first step is to detach the garden hoses. The second is wrapping the outside spigots with towels or pre-made covers to keep the pipes from freezing. Plants with remaining tender growth are covered with old sheets for protection and warmth. Extra birdseed and deer apples are placed in the usual feeding stations for the wildlife to find and eat.
The night sky is a dark, steel-grey yet the ubiquitous stars shine clear and bright. There are no clouds overhead. While zipping up jackets and heading outside for a walk , we hear a murmur of voices float through the air. “It’s going to be cold tonight.” The neighbors share the sentiments of weather with one another creating a sense of community and caring in the village. Night falls with an extra quiet quality.
Looking out the windows in the early morning, the magic of a winter wonderland is everywhere! Silver sparkles cover the rooftops, glinting in the sun. Silver-white dusting covers the fence posts in nature’s own patterned designs. Some of the frost crystals look like tiny diamonds clinging to the fence boards. Others appear to be furry with pointed ends standing up like frozen fur. Leaves and stems coated in white ice sprinkles and frosting, stand out against the fading green landscape.
A sense of wonder fills us with gratitude for this glistening, brilliant painting of white. Synchronicity is evident with frost at year-end arriving with the start of the winter season. The alchemy of endings and beginnings combines acceptance with a “letting go”, both of great value this time of year.
The world slows for just a moment as we celebrate this magical, luminous gift.
