a very muddy river

Over the last week the St. Mary's River, which runs past my apartment building, has undergone some interesting transformations.  As you can imagine, when the temperatures dropped to sub-zero the river froze into a solid white sheet.  After a day the smooth surface had become wrinkled.  I don't know how else to describe it.  It still looked very solid, but with texture.  The next day it was snow covered and smooth.  Over the last few days it has been thawing but not completely.  Today it looked like a river of frozen, crinkled mud.  Interesting, but not particularly attractive. 

Oh, by the way, as I was watching the river I noticed that my white plastic bag is still in its tree.  That means it has been in that tree for over a year now.  Hang in their little bag.  I wonder if I should contact the Guiness people ( the record keepers, not the beer).