Minnehaha, Frozen

One of the great things about Minnesota is how drastically different everything looks even with just a bit of snow on the ground. Just a thin layer, less than half an inch, adds a rich texture to the landscape. The stark, now-bare farmland looks completely different after a dusting of snow.

Or Minnehaha Falls, for instance, is in a ravine, which means that snow hangs around for much longer than it does on level ground.

On our last trip, we (carefully) made our way along the river and enjoyed the new landscape.

As the falls plummet over the edge of the bowl, the mist coats the surroundings in ice. Even the trees up at the rim were reflecting the sunlight, and the frost is readily apparent on the rocks below.

Along the trail up to the falls, the little bit of snow the Cities had received on Thanksgiving Day was still hanging around. Even thought it was less than an inch and the temperature was above freezing, the snow was protected by the ravine's wall.

And as we went back to the car, a guy stopped us and pointed up to this eagle -- one of many I've seen over the past month or so.