What a difference a week can make. Winter has arrived and provided enough snow to x-country ski and snowshoe. Outstanding!

I had to play in the snow. There were no human tracks on the trails; only the woodland creatures were out before me. The air was crisp. The day was calm. My outing was amazing.

The fresh snow glistened when the sun came out from behind the clouds. It crunched under my boots. The sound of the squirrels and the birds echoed through the now leafless forest.

I love winter and all the activities that I choose to do to celebrate the ice and snow; snowshoeing, x-country skiing, kicksledding and skating on the outdoor rinks and ponds.

One has to be dressed for success, so to speak. You must ensure that you are comfortable, safe and warm before heading out. I use cleats on my boots because you never know where there is a patch of ice under the snow. Hiking poles provide stability on the winter walks. Fleece lined pants provide warmth. Lots of layers provide the ability to adjust your temperature by being able to add or subtract items. My fingers keep warm with a glove liner inside some fleece mittens. I also invested in a reusable pocket hand warmer that gets filled with lighter fluid. Once it is lit, it stays warm for hours and is used to warm up the digits when I stop for a rest.

My biggest 'beef' each winter when the snow begins to fall is that enough falls with the first storms so there is an ample layer to enjoy and this year I have no 'beef'. There is about eight inches of fluffy, flakes on the ground to enjoy.