In just about two weeks, at 1:09 AM on December 22, Earth will pass that part of its orbit around our parent star at which the North Pole is furthest inclined away from the Sun, and the South Pole is inclined closest. As we approach this moment, the sun's apparent march across the horizon at dawn and dusk--which races near the spring and autumnal equinoxes--slows down to a crawl.

In other words, we've already entered the shortest and darkest four weeks of the year, and you can tell. Shadows--even at midday--are very long and blue on fresh snow.

For some, the lack of solar rays (and temperatures topping off in the low 20s!) prompts depression. For many of us, this is the finest period of the year: early winter.

It's a time to be outdoors, in dry, cold air. We want (and have) a good base of snow for succeeding snows. We have espresso served up in the "Java Hut," also known as the Forestry Shed. "Java Hut" is for caffeine-starved faculty. The Forestry Shed is also a resource for forestry and wildlife students, whom we see filing in to procure snowshoes.

They'll need to manage snowshoes in the weeks and months ahead (God willing!) as they take advantage of Proctor's extensive woodlot for science observation and study. We're strapping them on for the first time.

After a relay race on snowshoes, the big bell on Maxwell Savage hall rings, and the whole school comes together for another informative and outrageous assembly.

Then, we file out, pouring like a human river toward the Wise Center and the rest of campus.

It's very cold. Shadows are long. Students are underdressed--as usual.

December can not get better than this. Unless, of course, we got another foot of dry powder on top.....