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From early morning, I had been so absorbed in writing my book that I barely noticed the time passing. Then, almost absentmindedly, I glanced out the window and saw a few snowflakes drifting down—only to realize before long that they had turned into a full, heavy snowfall. The scenery was beautiful, of course, though I couldn’t help thinking about the work it would take to clear it all. Still, what can one do about what heaven sends?

I’d been feeling the onset of a cold since yesterday and wondered whether I should go out at all. But by the afternoon, the snow seemed to have stopped, so I grabbed my snow shovel and went out to clear the white blanket covering the front entrance and driveway. Once I finished, a refreshing sense of satisfaction washed over me.

Since I was already outside, I felt drawn to take a walk in the snow-covered woods. Pulling my walker along, I headed toward the forest, and the whole neighborhood looked as though it had been dressed in white, like walking through a winter kingdom. From experience, I know that winter hiking is the best, and once again, the woods did not disappoint.

As I entered the familiar forest, I noticed a few scattered footprints—someone had passed through earlier. Walking along the pristine, untouched path felt like a feast for my eyes. The bare branches, each tipped with white snow blossoms, reminded me of the witch’s castle from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a movie I watched long ago.

With every step, the snow made a soft crunching sound beneath my feet, adding to the delight. The air was so crisp and clean that each breath felt invigorating, a small gift in itself. After walking for a while, I spotted two young deer that had been hiding for some time, now busily moving through the woods in search of food. They had been wandering about peacefully, but when I approached to take a photo, they startled and slipped away between fallen logs.

Ah, it had been a long time since I savored the charm of a snow-covered forest. This is the very reason I can never bring myself to leave this place.