Blow thou Winter Wind!

Or, maybe, take a little break.

Today we are enjoying winter at its finest here in the Chicago suburbs--bitter cold with a biting wind that plunges temperatures somewhere in the -20 degree range. I'm home from work trying to keep mild sinus stuffiness from becoming a major infection (like it has threatened to do during the past few weeks). Of course, that game plan is somewhat threatened by the fact that Qila and Orion seem to have an instinctual need to be outside during this hoary day. I've taken them out at least 7 times since they woke up this morning, and each time they caper, cavort, prance, and toss their heads playfully into the snow as the frigid wind blows hard across the field.

I'm frozen.

Which reminds me of a video that I created a few years ago during a time when I was exploring the capabilities of Microsoft's movie applications. I've decided to repost it here. All of the photos in this video are of the area surrounding my townhome and come from Debbie's camera (she really is a phenomenal photographer). Enjoy!

Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most freindship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As a friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most freindship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.