Deep Winter Peace

There's nothing like a little icing – not too much! – to make things look festive.



Following yesterday's storm, I think my crab apple tree takes the cake for strangest transformation. The tree produces clusters of pea-sized fruit (much loved by birds) on stems that turn red in autumn. Ice rime enlarged and blurred the color and form of the clusters – in the early morning the tree looked like it was laden with enormous smoky pink flowers, like fantastic spider mums. My poor digicam is easily flummoxed, but I had to try to capture the wonder.



Also yesterday, following a comprehensive report from the NJ Death Penalty Study Commission and votes by the Senate and Assembly, New Jersey became the first U.S. state to legislatively abolish the death penalty. A broad coalition of prosecutors, law enforcement, victims, civil rights, religious, and advocacy groups supported the measure. The people of New Jersey have spoken; the governor is expected to sign the bill into law.