One of the many snowmen at the Birch Ridge Inn.

One of the many snowmen at the Birch Ridge Inn.

Each year after the end of the holiday season, Mary changes the decorations all around the inn to include Snowmen. They are in all shapes and sizes, occupying many quiet spaces all around the inn. Many move. Some sing. The most complicated sing and dance. All to the delight of inn guests during the winter season.

The little number in todays picture is both a paragon of complexity, hiding under a simple theme. This snowman is a variation of the venerable snow globe...but with a high tech twist. With the flick of a switch on the back of the snow man, it lights up with a sequence of colors. While the lights are dancing, a magnetically coupled impeller spins at random at the bottom of the snowman, spinning water and thrusting glitter all through the snowmans body. I though of doing a little video of the creation, but I concluded that it would probably be as interesting as one of those electronic gold fish bowls, so I demurred. But the battery operated creature is quite hypnotic in real life.

Around the mountain, skiers and riders departing the area from their MLK weekend visits found 3 inches of new snow to greet them this morning. Snow showers are in the forecast for most of the week which will help keep a nice white patina on top of the Green Mountains. With luck, I will be on the slopes tomorrow with an updated ski report.........let it snow!