Let me just say, I'm tired of the cold and snow! It's so much work just to go outdoors - putting on  a coat and hat and gloves and scarf and boots. But, I have to admit, this can be a beautiful time of year. The trees covered in snow are a contrast in black and white and snow drifts can create amazing abstract designs. Then, there are branches covered in ice. We were at Thompson Stone Hall (formerly known as Otsego Stone Hall) out on River Road yesterday. I was looking out the window and saw this:

I don't know what caused the ice to form in that swirled, twisted pattern. Did it start with some melted snow that ran down and around the branch? Or was it the wind that blew around and around, creating this design? If anyone knows why the ice formed this way or what caused it, I'd love to hear from you.