In the Deep Dark Winter

Snow on snow. . .

It started snowing when we were in St Louis over Christmas and we haven't seen dirt since. We have 2 1/2 feet of snow in the back yard. It has been a cold and snowy 2 months. Poor Joey has a snow path that is up to her shoulders when she needs to go outside.

I love a good snowy winter: waking up to a new, undisturbed covering of white, watching snow fall on the hillside behind the house, reading by the burning fire, making soup and bread for dinner, and snuggling with John at night.



. . on snow on snow



But this winter has has been long even for us die hard winter fans. Temperatures have plummeted below zero with inversions that have held kept fog, smog, and cold air in the valley and warm air above it in the mountains. We even had an ice storm!  Who knew it could rain in the warm air above the inversion, then freeze when it hit the frigid air below and turn into ice on the roads sidewalks and driveways? People were slipping and sliding everywhere. Annie's car ended up sideways at the foot of her driveway and she had to practically crawl up it to get into her garage.

But it is still beautiful. The view of the creek and my neighbors bridge from my living room after one storm was amazing!  It almost makes the minor disasters of life seem insignificant (headaches, replacing the hot water heater, refrigerator and battery and oil pan on the Honda within two weeks of each other, and more headaches.)



. . .snow on snow. . .

And if I get too tired of winter I read my seed catalogues and order seeds. Or I enjoy the hyacinths than my sister Ann forced for me. They really do feed the soul.



. . .snow on snow on snow.