As I recall, I read this book about ten years ago, at, appropriately, the time of the winter solstice, but, because of several moves and several redistributions,lendings, shufflings, etc., I realize that this fine book is, unfortunately, no longer in my possession, but I recommend it highly as a way to emerse yourself, vicariously, in the winter landscape of rural Vermont. Diana kappel-Smith admonishes herself to--and this is a paraphrase--"put away the field lens" and "burrow yourself, like the vole, into the snow." This is truly a celebration of winter in which the reader becomes the vole, the owl, the fox through the authors vivid descriptions and narratives. The author and the reader become the woods, the snow, the trees, the rocks, the sky! Who needs the handlens when they've already become the thing they would discover under the glass!? Great! Written with the enthusiasm of the novice and the expertise of the trained naturalist!