Dark and damp, but with the temp above freezing all last night and all day today. Heading out for our mid-morning walk, I decided that enough melting had occurred to render creepers unnecessary. That turned out to be an erroneous decision. Crossing a steep driveway, very carefully, I found an area completely devoid of traction, and went down flat, somewhat surprising both Pax and me. At this point I am saying that no permanent damage was done.

Here is an amazing natural phenomenon, although and unpleasant one. An ash tree, infected with EAB, Emerald Ash Borer. Through some process unknown to me, the dying trees shed their bark—eject their bark—leaving trunks looking like someone had gone at them with a spoke-shave. Close inspection reveals that beneath the shed bark are multitudinous D-shaped holes, the sad signature of EAB.