Alas, All Good Things Seem To Have To Come To An End

It started snowing early Christmas Eve Day.

This is what greeted us as we left the condo to walk over to the coffee shop.

The initial forecasts were for the snow to begin in the afternoon. This was a little after 9:00 am. Oops.

After breakfast Heather and I walked to the bank and then did some shopping. The roads were fine. We could have driven, but it was right around the freezing mark and it was just a delight to walk.

I seldom get to use my snowshoes and heaven knows I certainly didn't need them today, but after Heather and I finished our walk together I headed over to Francis Park with snowshoes in hand.

My, what big feet I have.

It was going to be one of those days where it snowed all day long.

The leaves on the ground are still visible poking up through the snow.

Bigfoot's tracks.

I meandered throughout the park stopping occasionally to take a photo.

Eventually I came upon an area where children were sliding down a small hill. As I was watching the children play a car came up and parked near where I was standing. A man and his daughter were got out of the car. She had a saucer to slide down the hill. The man and I chatted. Come to find out they were visiting from Sydney, Australia. They'd never been in snow before. I asked him if he'd take my picture. So there you have it: A man from Australia taking the picture of a man snowshoeing in St. Louis, Missouri on Christmas Eve Day. I wonder how often that has happened.

Proof of the existence of Bigfoot

Bob walking down the hill to join his daughter. She is admiring the rather large snowman.

I continued on my way, crisscrossing the park and taking more photos.

Notice that the leaves aren't showing anymore.

Darkness descended but I was reluctant to call it a day. Alas, all good things seem to have to come to an end. So one more picture.

Every year they set up a tree in Francis Park and decorate it with white lights. Eventually there will be a live tree that will have this honor, but it is not large enough yet. If you look closely you can see the candidate tree standing behind the tree of lights.

At the edge of the Park I took off my snowshoes and headed home. I was surprised to discover how much more difficult it was to walk on the snow covered sidewalk than it had been walking on the snow in the park. I guess the snowshoes ended up not being superfluous after all.

When I got home Billie volunteered to watch over my snowshoes and poles.

It is definitely going to be a White Christmas here in the Heartland. May all your blessings be obvious during this wondrous Season and may all your Christmases be merry!