Cold last night (4F) and all day today (10F). Not quite below zero but it felt bitter. I knew, after our recent warm spell, the ice on the stream near Chase Road would be interesting. I was not disappointed. The variables governing the ice were different than last time, dominated by the cold temperature.
The water had obviously overflowed the banks during the “warm” spell and the footing was tricky. I was glad to be wearing cleats but even then I went with care. New ice formed in many places were water slowly spilled over slopes creating “steps” that changed from gray to sparkling depending on the light and angle.
These kinds of ice formations don’t develop in warmer weather so the price of being cold—even well dressed and using hot packs my fingers went numb—is seeing first hand the beauty of these kinds of ice formations. I might have seen these on a walk but making photographs affords me the opportunity to see them more fully and feel the delicious reality of the cold.
Coming home to two cups of hot tea was also a pleasure not to be forgotten!
The ripples in the ice are similar to those I've seen in water, sand and clouds.
The lighter areas are not snow but the glint of sunlight off textured ice.
A change in position with the sun brings an entirely different look.
With no direct sunlight and a gray sky the ice takes on a surreal quality.
Still Learning To See 
wonderful shots. the ice makes beautiful abstracts.
Don’t you remember when we were kids that we hated it when the ice froze this way, playing havoc with our ice skating on the lake. You’ve framed it differently now.
Yes, I do! I also remember laying on flat out on clear ice watching fish and crayfish and other critters down below. What a magical world it is.