Scooping up some ice-puppies

Cold weather settled into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest while an ice storm was engulfing regions south and to the east of them. Temperatures were well below freezing, including a -16 in Minneapolis. The ice storm passed through us with a minimum of effect, trailing the arctic front in its wake. Although we didn't get that cold, our low upon waking up this morning was 0.5, a seasonal low, hitting our high of 16 in the afternoon.

in front of a neighbor's creek on a pleasant, warmer morning

It was 2 degrees when Beth took the dogs out for their morning walk and they returned sooner than expected because it was too cold for them. We call it "walking on 3 legs" when they slow down and start lifting their legs, drawing them away from the cold surface. They quickly recover inside and seem to forget their discomfort, eagerly hoping to be asked to return outside in minutes. Saying it was breath-taking and chilly doesn't begin to describe how it feels. Winter is back.