Frosted windows this morning signaled that it was COLD outside this Christmas Eve. When I woke up this morning it was a minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit; “colder than Christmas” (as the saying almost goes). It warmed enough to put a fresh coat of snow on our older snow. Subzero temps return tonight followed by a couple more inches of snow toward morning. It is unusual to have snow with such low temperatures; the air holds less moisture when so cold.

It has been three years since a “white Christmas” in Chicago. Chicago’s chances are 47 percent that tomorrow morning will be picture perfect for this special day. An inch of snow on the ground is required here to be an “official” White Christmas. My hopes are bubbling; I believe snow should always accompany cold weather. I do appreciate that I am in the minority of adults with this view.

Snowflake designs are dependent on their height and movement in the clouds as they form. The causes for the variety of frosted flakes on our windows this morning is a mystery I have not yet solved (or learned). My fascination grows as I ponder these icy ingenious complexities.