Days like this remind me of hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. When we would leave home, the air would be a little cool, the skies that gorgeous Carolina blue. After a relatively short drive of less than an hour, we would be up on the Parkway, preferably Craggy Gardens, since that was my favorite place.

Standing at the top of Craggy, we would look out and see black-gray clouds full of power and snow approaching.

On occasion, I made the foolish mistake of wearing a light sweater or a mere two layers of clothing. When the white snows swirled and shattered around us, sometimes taking cover behind an overhanging rock or within the forest of rhododendrons would be the only respite on the way down.

This Indiana morning has that kind of unexpected variety in the weather, too.

Waking up, we were greeted with 63*, but now, only a few hours later, we are in the lower 40s and dropping rapidly!

Our once dark, rainy, thunderstorm filled skies are now a pushing-pulling brawl between thick white poofs, dazzling blue sky and pouty gray clouds.

Just a moment ago, I was nearly blinded by horizontal sheets of wet, slate colored snow, but almost as quickly, the wind pushed it all eastwards and left a dull kind of sunlight in its place.

Strange how the sound of the rakish wind is almost comforting. It brings yearnings for hot chocolate and a need to bake warm yeasty breads.

The kitchen seems to be the only place to be this December morning, so I will leave you now for a day spent measuring and stirring, leveling and cooling.

I hope your day allows you time to stare out the window at tempestuous gusts and a multitude of atmospheric color. Stay safe and warm - and enchanted with this wonderful place we find ourselves!