Seventeen Days Until Solstice

At sunrise, looking east from Graywood Farm, down Geiger Road -- Huron County, Michigan

One morning last week, when this photo was taken, there had been snow during the night. The sunrise, a soft pink shadow, moved across Huron County, from east to west, and lit up the snow for a moment with the magic light of cold December in the days before Solstice.

Graywood Farm is located on Geiger Road. The road runs almost due east and west. At the times of the spring (March)and fall (September) equinox, the sun rises and sets along the line of the road You could almost set a GPS by the equinox suns. But, in December the sun rises through the woods and over the river flats, way south of the road and Pigeon River Mennonite Church. Living in Huron County you almost come to know what month it is by where the sun comes up in the morning.

I love the big skies in Huron County. The sunrises in winter, even on these days when the sun crawls across the southern sky, lift my spirits. The colors and the light bring a new day. And even if that day is cold and even if it is December and, yes, even if it is a Monday, a new day is good.

Copyright 2011
Wanda Hayes Eichler