I am always amazed at the beauty of ice in the winter. Wadsworth Falls State Park is often a good place to find amazing ice.

The Big Falls has added splendor with the ice.

I found amazing ice crystals near my feet in the frozen stream.

The forms along the edge of the flowing stream above the falls were breathtaking too.

We had over two feet of snow a few days ago that changed the winter landscape dramatically. There was so much snow that the state did not plow the parking areas for Wadsworth Falls State Park. Luckily, I was able to park at Wadsworth Mansion and enjoy some cross-country skiing on this beautiful, warm, sunny day.

The blue sky, and sunshine lifted my spirits as we skied on what had once been carriage roads when Colonel Wadsworth lived in the mansion in the early 1900s.

I was lucky enough to walk at Chapman Pond Preserve in East Haddam two weeks in a row. On January 23 at 8:30 AM it was clear and cold; only 8 degrees F when I started my 3-mile hike.  A week later, Jan 30 at 8:30 AM it was foggy and a balmy 48 degrees F.  What a difference a week makes! Chapman Pond one of the few freshwater, tidal ponds and is a little known, but beautiful preserve to explore.