beauty or danger?

this drew my attention yesterday afternoon

I thought the icicles were pretty so I snapped a picture

I saw what is below this afternoon and had different thoughts

sleet

ice

snow

repeat

add a little rain at the end of the second round

and my wide gutters were filled 

I heard rain dripping on my heating and air unit the other night

went out to check it

ice had formed on top of it and I scraped it off 

add a third round of

sleet

ice 

and snow

no temp above freezing

just enough warmth from the house I guess 

that moisture began to overflow

evening/night temps continue to plummet

adding strength to a danger I wasn't aware of

today I noticed them for the first time

the longest ones had grown to be at least three feet long

they were a hazard that wasn't welcome to hang around

so I raised the window,

removed the screen

took my little "lady hammer"

and slowly chiseled them, 

starting from the bottom and working my way up

farthest from the house to closest

I measured the fattest chunk I found on the ground when I was done

it is at least 4 inches thick

those things held serious injury potential

as I was working I wondered

"How many things are building up, overflowing,

lengthening in my life,

posing possible serious threats

that I am blissfully unaware of 

simply because I've not taken time to look out or look up."