web1_As-Gods-2.jpg

Manhattan-based surrealist Vincent Castiglia uses his own blood to create profound visions of life and death

web1_traffic.jpg

Areas roadways clear to greet mid-week commuters

<p>It seems that as the seasons unfold, we seem to have requirements for the season. Thanksgiving, for example, should be crisp and clear, cold but not too cold.</p><p>Christmas, should be not only decked with holly, with with a few flakes that make our lawns and spirits bright, but not the roads.</p><p>Perhaps though, if we are winter sport enthusiasts, we would hope for temperatures below freezing, so that ski resorts could make powdery snow, with no patches of ice, fluffy, but not so fluffy that we can&#8217;t see when we fly over a mogul.</p><p>But, perhaps our predictions for warmth and family fun this year can come from the inside. If we experience love and fellowship among family, perhaps it won&#8217;t matter if it rains on Christmas Eve.</p><p>Perhaps if temperatures rise or fall unexpectedly, the holidays will find us around our Christmas Tree rather than around an outdoor fire.</p><p>In the long term, those things don&#8217;t matter.</p><p>One year, a pin hole in the turkey roaster caused a small oven fire and a broken mixer made it necessary to make mashed potatoes in the blender &#8211; or should I say pureed potatoes.</p><p>With the day winding up, several of my kids said, &#8220;this has been our best Christmas yet.&#8221;</p><p>Somehow, if we look to what it really important, outside happenings won&#8217;t matter so much.</p><p>Rest assured we will have snow before spring!</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_CrabApple-Snow.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_CrabApple-Snow.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Forecast for the holiday: merry and bright