LIGHTS IN HOLIDAY HUES rim the Rice County government services building along busy Minnesota State Highway 60/Fourth Street in Faribault adding a festive flair to the city-scape.
I love this, these unexpected jolts of color brightening the darkening sky of late afternoon, the darkness of nightfall in December. Minnesota winters get long and dreary and dark and any extra light lifts my spirits.
Soon days will lengthen following the winter solstice on December 21. For that I feel grateful. Even if January brings cold and snow, followed by more cold and snow, I can see the light of spring in lengthening days.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you, Kathy. And you also.
The best thing about the first day of winter, is that the days will be getting longer! ❤
Yup. Light always helps. Even though it’s incredibly cold in Minnesota today, the sun is shining brightly. I will take that any day over grey skies.
What a festive touch.
It really is and the colors are changed out for different holidays and events. Have you seen the colored lights on Faribault’s new water tower along I-35? Those too can be changed.
Yes, we noticed the water tower had colored lights…
The water tower lights were costly, though, at $115,000. In these days of tight budgets and higher taxes, I find the expense not a need but a want. That all said, I don’t know how much the lights on the county government building cost. But they are at least more than simply decorative.
Those are really cool lights!
I fully agree.
yes, you are so right and light in all its forms is so helpful and positive
Just plugged in my Christmas tree. I love the lights glowing in my living room on these dark afternoons.
So happy the days are getting longer soon, aren’t you?
Longer is good. Today is bright and sunny here. I hung my sheets on the line in 20-some-degree temps and they froze. This afternoon the temp is supposed to rise to around 40. I’m confident they will dry in the sunshine and warmth.