Ice Ribbons and Snow Dragons

Dear Diary,

This winter I have been looking at the many ways ice forms and this is a new one for me...ice ribbons! It must be that the warm sun melts the snow but the cold temperatures freezes it as it slides off the roof in thin, delicate strips. You can see a strip that is bent by the pressure of the slowly sliding snow.

When I got the image on the computer I saw that the snow on the roof's edge had formed into what looks to me like a dragon's head! Maybe I am influenced by the fact that it is the Chinese New Year today! When I was in China, I saw these sorts of dragon heads on the roofs of traditional houses. They were put there to ward off evil spirits.

I've added three portraits I did when I was in China. Lots of amazing memories on that trip!