A Touch of Frost

I hopped down the last porch riser and marched along the crunchy gravel path, holding my candy cane upright like a walking staff. Beneath the drooping shade of a rosemary sprig, something wonderful caught my eye: an upright pinecone nestled in the cool moss. Snagged across its upper scales was a wispy tuft of white dandelion fluff, looking for all the world like a fresh dusting of winter snow on an evergreen peak. I paused, chuckled heartily, and used the curved crook of my cane to gently sweep three stray pebbles away from its footing. With one steady nudge to set it straight, my miniature winter spire stood proud.