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I recently had a “break through”.

Why haven’t I realized the aspects of Winter?

As you know, Summer has the breakdown:

Solstice to July 4 ~ Summer
July 4 to 22 ~ Mid Summer
July 22 to August 15 ~ High Summer
August 15 to Labour Day ~ Late Summer
Labour Day to Equinox ~ Summers’ Twilight

So, Winter, my Favourite of the Seasons, deserves no less!

Solstice to New Year ~ New Winter
New Year to January 18 ~ Winter
January 18 to February 14 ~ Still Winter
February 14 to March 17th ~ Deep Winter
March 17 to Equinox ~ Winters’ Twilight

The aspects are solid, the names are new and may be subject to change.

Here is the last picture of the labyrinth, reclaimed by Poseidon last week:

Some storm related images:

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In the snowed in days I strangely found myself turned in the direction of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I was in the mood for demo’s and rarities and discovered and rediscovered many gems.

I spent a bit of time watching concerts of Lynyrd Skynyrd on youtube, shows from 1974, 1975, and 1977 (their 9th to last show). Stunning. Days before packaged looks and sounds. An authentic mission from very humble beginnings. I’m strangely attracted to the Rossington Collins and Allen Collins Bands. Rising from tragedy, to be met with more tragedy …

Here’s Willow totally rocking with classic Skynyrd:

Yesterday, out of curiosity, I watched some of the new Skynyrd. It was for a DVD and the “package” was clear. For this show Ricky Medlocke and Hughie Thomasson were in the roles of Allen and Steve. Medlocke was involved in the early days of Skynyrd and Thomasson was in the Outlaws. Both were competent, if not great. But, it was all a package. Billy Powell and Gary Rossington were also there, this must’ve been shortly before Billy’s passing, leaving Rossington the last of them. Anyway, the package was clear. The product was good. I even watched their Free Bird, and thought … may be I should see the touring act while Rossington is still there.
I think the packaged product that is now in place could go on forever no matter who is in the crew now. I never gave the new band a listen, and I probably won’t. Johnny Van Zant is a good front man, but it’s not a band (or product) I have a need for.

But, damn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, in the day … rocked.

Here is a beautiful version of Free Bird by The Rossington Collins Band. Poignant and bittersweet in it’s vocal-less form:

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