The first day of winter looked more like autumn this year without the normal snow on the ground and it had me wishing the warm temperatures would continue.
The tamarack would not make a very good pine tree for Christmas since the tamarack turns yellow in autumn and drop their needles so they would be rather bare looking even at the start of the Christmas season.
There was some rain overnight but not enough to overflow the pond like this photo from a few years ago. The rain didn’t melt the ice layer on the pond either, but it might have polished the ice some more.
I am enjoying the weather this December and the lack of snow is making the critters happy too as they can find food and seeds easier without the snow cover.