When mist rises from ice-melting rivers and streams, magic ensues.
When ice dresses branches and twigs, the world is transformed for an instant, an hour, a brief respite.
Winter yawns, thinking it might stretch out another month or two here in the Upper Peninsula.
Everything sparkles and winks in the morning sun, secretly laughing at Old Man Winter’s plan to outstay his welcome.
I pause for five minutes on the way to Marquette already dreaming of steaming hot coffee, grilled potatoes, maybe a scrambled egg. In the distance a train rumbles, blowing its horn.
There’s much in the world we can despair on some mornings as our thoughts fuss about politics, health, loved ones, terrorism or other ills.
Sometimes taking five minutes to pull off onto *the road less traveled* makes all the difference. To detour from our daily rut, our 9-5 of everyday chores and worries and wonderings. Five minutes to breathe in beauty, icicles (even in April) and bird song clears away the clutter of our thoughts and feelings.
Then we hop back into the car refreshed ready to drive into the next moment.
When was the last time you took the road less traveled, for five minutes or a day?
Lake Superior Spirit 
I like mist and ice when we have them here in Missouri too. I am happy that Winter leaves here earlier than it leaves there.
A detour to a road less traveled yesterday occurred because I was too late to be part of a horrendous accident and I did enjoy seeing what was “back there” that I usually whiz by when on the highway. I felt only gratitude for the slow driver on the state highway that delayed my travel. Maybe that detour was about 5 mins.
My refreshing was the yoga class I was headed towards and arrived at safe and sound.
Happy Saturday !!
Lovely!
Thank you for sending pics
Glad to see them without feeling
The temperature!!
Here we have frost
No snow
Bright clear day
Rain expected
So very glad you have
Found your word muse
And photo muse!!!!!!!!!!
Fountainpen!
We have thunder in the distance this afternoon. Much better than ice and snow.
I think I mostly live on the road less traveled. Even though it was colder and windier than I’d have preferred, I took a nice long hike in the woods today. Who can really complain when the skies are blue? (PS – It looks like you got much more snow than we did (dusting was gone shortly after sun-up). But gosh your snow was pretty today!)
Ok Kathy aren’t you glad you stopped ? How lovely. But … but …snow … REALLY ? Frikkin’ snow !
I like the road less travelled–even if only for a few minutes–you have a poet’s heart………
Beautiful photos, Kathy!
Kathy I think I actually live way down off the end of the road less traveled to the point that I am frequently breaking trail. But it is all good. I love a grand adventure! Your photographs are stunning and make my nose tingle in the remembered coolness of early spring where there is a winter with snow. A beautiful pause in your busy and structured day. So glad you shared it with us.
Oh wow, Kathy! Your pictures show such breathtaking beauty in your surroundings! Thank you for sharing them. I used to love being out in nature because it always lightened my mood and brought many moments of healing to my body, mind and spirit. But now, I can hardly leave the house so I have to find other ways to do those things that nature did for me. Every time I stitch a gift for someone, I send up prayers for them while stitching and that helps to ease my worries and fears. But so far, nothing touches my soul like nature did, bringing warmth from the sunshine, energy in my muscles from hiking through the woods, and feeling the invigorating air in my lungs. I really miss all that time outdoors, gardening, yard work, hiking and walking. So, thank for you sharing the beauty around you in the northwoods. I love seeing your pictures every time you share them! ❤
Wonderful pictures! The road less traveled these days is Northbound 41. As Jenny heals I come closer to taking that road. 🙂
Beautiful photos; piercing, lovely thoughts.
The icy photos are stupendous. I like you road less traveled. I have not take a road less traveled in a long time. But I surely would like to drive out where the blue bonnets are still in bloom.
Beautiful pictures, despite the chill they are filled with! What a great thought to take the road less traveled from time to time. I often think about it but don’t do it.
This is a test … lol (left comment on your page)
Sound advice beautifully illustrated and written.
All across America, no matter where I am, I choose to take the road less traveled.
Beautiful, Kathy. I’m so with you.
OMG ty!!! five minutes i can do that!
Kathy — I’m in complete, total, and full agreement with one of your other readers who said: “The icy photos are stupendous!”
I’m flying back to the midwest at the end of this week to speak at the Writers’ Institute at UW-Madison. Please God, don’t let it be quite that cold. After two years, my bones are no longer used to it…
Lovely photos, we were promised a bad winter with snow… we didn’t have a bad winter, we had about 10 minutes if snow, TUT!
Never have grays been so beautiful!
Beautiful photos, beautiful words. I am blessed as I feel like my life is lived along the road less traveled.
I love this Kathy – very poetic and very true. Thanks.
Sherry
So wonderful to see your words!