Yet another morning where an overnight icy fog hung hoarfrost for the morning ramble with the meathead.

This morning was one of the better ones, though not as spectacular as Dec. 19.

In the past two weeks, we have had least seven or eight mornings with hoarfrost decorating the trees, and a couple with wet snow doing a similar holiday decoration.

Above was the scene Christmas morning when we stepped out the front door: wet snow clinging to the dogwood in our front lawn and the trees and posts beyond.

This will go down as one of the wintriest Decembers in Chicago outdoors. I think we have to go back to December of 2000 to find the last December quite like this.

I am not sure how or if meteorologists define wintry, it would have be some combination of cold temperatures and frozen precipitation. But this December certainly fits in as one of the all-timers, however you define wintry.

We have had snow cover continuously for nearly four weeks now.

Maybe that helps contribute to the unusual number of mornings with icy fogs and hoarfrost.

I find hoarfrost one of the most beautiful winter sights. Some of it may be its transient nature. It comes overnight, then the first touch of breeze and it floats away as though never there.

And it just looks beautiful with the patterns of its formation clinging to whatever surfaces.

Later today, we will be above freezing for a change.

And a change will come over the next few days.

Briefly.

It may be a stretch the roses to rebound from their winter coat.