It’s been getting pretty darn cold the last few mornings in Point Reyes. We’ve been wearing gloves, hats and double coats as we take the dogs for their daily morning walk. I keep on sniffing the air for moisture above, but alas not a snowflake to be found. The last time it snowed in these parts was nearly twenty years ago when we awoke to a beautiful sight on the morning of January 28, 2002.
Oak and Standing Stone in Snow ©2002-20 Marty Knapp
Last weekend, on Saturday afternoon, the sky took on a leaden, anticipatory cast. It was bone chilling cold and if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought I was looking at a “snow sky.” December’s low-angled sunlight, the chill and a low heavy sky will do that to a native New Englander.
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful…
Back in the warmth of the house I daydreamed of long past winter childhood memories. The phone jangled, awakening me from my reverie. It was a call from a fella who was standing in front of my gallery. He was wondering if I had any photographs featuring an iconic oak tree and standing stone on the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road. I was well aware of the place, having driven past it for more than forty years. In fact, back in the nineties, I made a photograph there that featured the old oak and companion stone under a full moon with a lone cow grazing nearby. I walked down to the gallery to meet him and show him a sample of Moonrise at Treerock. Hmmm, that wasn’t the view he wanted…. He preferred one taken from the side that showed the separation between the tree and the upright stone.
And since we’ve got no place to go…
I thought for a moment and remembered I had made just such an image on the morning of a rare north coast snowstorm. I hurried home to find the original negative from 2002. As I scanned the film, the lyrics from a classic Christmas song started playing in my mind’s ear:
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
I couldn’t resist–The refrain and title is linked to a melodious rendering by Frank Sinatra.
Oak and Standing Stone in Snow has never been shown in my gallery or on my website. It’s a companion piece to the better known Snow and Ranch Fence which was made on Olema Hill when I first awoke to discover the snow that January morning in 2002.
It’s Sunday evening as I write these thoughts down. The temperature is dropping again. Do you think we just might get a little snow on the coast this winter?
I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Snow and Ranch Fence ©2002-20 Marty Knapp
What a lovely photo. Moonrise at Tree Rock is a favorite. There is something about the cow that adds so much to a stunning setting. I hope you do get snow. There is a chance we will have snow in Houston. “What?” , you say. There is a pattern of significant hurricanes followed by winter snow. In 2017 after Hurricane Harvey, we had snow twice in December and once in January. So, fingers crossed, we may see some wintry flakes.
As bracing a yuletide missive as e’er sleigh’d by the merrie likes of Currier and Ives. It got me cozied and rosied and fireside toesied!
You sleigh me!
Ever grateful to the MartyMan and Jean for their artful seasonal grace, so say I!
Ever,
MattyMan
I remember that day! Hope you get some.
Lovely! Thank you Marty. How nice to be reminded of life on the North Coast. We were all set for a visit to your area but had to cancel due to Covid restrictions. I guess it will be next year before we see and smell that special mix of coastal wood.
Good morning Marty. The Snow and Ranch Fence photograph is beautiful. I like the way in which the gate opens up to offer the incredible setting beyond. Nice work. Jim.
Marty, I very much enjoyed your creative blog this morning. I especially appreciate the images which I have never seen before. Here is hoping we get snow, or at least some rain. Alas, it is sunny in southern California.