First Snow

Smooth black pebbles are often found at the base of the water fountain where you cleanse your hands prior to making your approach to a Shinto Shrine.

The local Shinto shrine just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from home.

Intricate wood carvings of dragons and various motifs near the roofline of the shrine.

Offertory box where you make cash donations (usually a 5-yen coin) prior to ringing the bells and offering your prayers.

A small group of bamboo at the bottom of the hill where the shrine is located.

Love how even in the dead of winter we can still see some trees and bamboo flourishing.

Top of the roof of a nearby Buddhist sanctuary typically used for funerals.

Poor blossom buds are frozen in the first snow of the season.

Some citrus fruit come into season during this time of the year.

Visited the pond at the local park to try to enjoy the virgin snow before the kids arrive to "mess" it all up.

Thin layers of ice started forming on the pond. 

A small creek in the park offered a wonderful mirror image of this tree.

Spring blossoms struggling in the first snow of the year.