Baby, It's Cold Outside!

NOT!!

I have felt almost embarrassed this week over how warm and dry it is here in South Carolina compared to other parts of the country. We are ending the driest year in recorded history in the state (according to a local weatherman) and had a record breaking 81 degrees one day this week, which is far too warm even for this warmth-loving librarian!

But when the weather is so warm and it is so close to Christmas, there is one thing we can do to get into the "spirit" of cold weather. We can look at snowflakes and marvel again at the beauty of the engineering feat accomplished with each one.

I looked around this morning on the internet and found a couple of really interesting web sites about snowflakes. Take a look and either 1) feel cool by looking at the wonderful photographs, or 2) enjoy snow from the indoors and stay out of the cold as much as possible:

http://snowflakebentley.com/snowflakes.htm These photos are amazing, especially considering they were taken back in the 1920's.

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals This site never ceases to amaze me!

http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/ You can make your own virtual snowflakes here, if you are patient enough to wait for the program to load. But, hey, it's Christmas vacation time so you have the extra time, right??!!

However you enjoy the snow and cold weather, may it be a truly joyful Christmas for you!