No one would question the severity that THIS winter's frigid temps have seriously had on our day to day lives…But even within that framework of walking from window to window during our waking hours, layered under three layers of sweaters  and choosing to “not” venture outside with the minus zero readings, there became for me, another option that presented itself quite unexpectedly.

Each night of the near or total full moon from early December through now,  there unfolded in the sky up above, a sometimes forgotten array of the brightest pin points of light above that were filled with the glorious patterns of so many  bright stars. Big and little Dippers, Sirius, on and on…I won’t lie…I looked them up. 

Their names didn’t matter, I was simply in awe of the continuous thread that they represented for EVERYONE to view under one big cloudless night sky. 

I love connections like this.

Then as the moon grew in its fullness, especially since it is in these winter months that it is closest to our earth here in the Northern hemisphere, the shadows on the ground were enhanced by the incredible beauty of the earth's crust and became more evident. Afterall, we have had snow on the ground since December.

As if that in itself wasn’t enough of a reward at about 2am, the activities of those critters who begin hunting for food in the middle of the night became much more evident. I heard the howls of the coyotes at first and then watched them cross the paths together heading down the logging trails after their prey. 

I stared into the depth of the woods at a larger shadowy figure but couldn’t figure out what it was until the daylight when we checked out tracks and realized not all the bears had chosen to sleep this winter…the tracks were huge. That was in December and I haven’t seen that image again…

Or any other evidence of the bear's adventures. Spring thaw isn’t too far away now (right?)  and will tell more of the tale.

I was definitely grateful that the skies were so clear during the nights when the moon was at its brightest. Of course that meant the outside temps were at their coldest but hey…it’s winter afterall.

One more thing that the clarity of the skies gifted us in this area …the Northern LIGHTS. 

That gem has always been on my bucket list, never having had the opportunity to witness that colorful light displays on the horizon before.

But that is now a thing of the past as these lights seem to be a regular occurrence every year now for the last two years.

The light of the moon is definitely something that everyone should experience once, even if it’s only when you get up to grab a glass of water in the middle of the night. Take a look…you won’t be disappointed..

Pat Larsen is a syndicated columnist who loves, works, plays and prays in Greene County. NY 

Have a story to share? Give her a call at 518-275-8686.