But it’s also beautiful.
The other morning, I was writing away in my journal, here at the kitchen table, and caught a flurry of movement at the edge of my vision. Lo and behold, four of my horses dashed by, through the 18-inch snowfall, and they were a breathtaking sight. I was awhile appreciating that, however, because they weren’t supposed to be on the loose! Turned out, while Larry the Canadian Wrangler was moving the tractor either in or out of the pasture, they made a break for it. The snow was so deep, they couldn’t have gone far, but I was a little panicked nonetheless. I hurried into jeans, sweatshirt, boots and heavy coat, but by the time I’d waded through knee-deep snow, Larry had already rounded them up. They were pretty proud of themselves, and I think the Great Escape did them some good.
Everybody’s been on extra snow duty around here, especially Larry. He’s been plowing, shoveling and snow-blowing practically 24/7. Bless his heart, he’s been a real trooper!
Wendy and Jeremy may still make it up here for Christmas. There’s another doozy of a storm on its way–due Christmas Eve, according to the weather reports. Much as I’d love to see them, I don’t want them taking any risks.
Amid all the discouraging images of semi-trucks off the road, travelers stranded in airports for days, and all the rest, there are the heroes and heroines of ordinary life, shoveling out their neighbors’ driveway, stopping to help a motorist in trouble, picking up groceries and medicine for the elderly and the disabled. Difficult circumstances bring out the best in so many people, don’t they?
As for my plans, I THINK I can get out to do a little Christmas shopping today. And I mean to work on my book, too. One of the furnaces isn’t working, so I might need to wait around for the repairman. He was here over the weekend, believe it or not, but didn’t have the part he needed. It’s pretty cold, except upstairs, where I still have heat. Not that I’m complaining–I’m glad to have power. This is life in the country!
I truly hope that wherever you are, you and family and your pets are warm, with a kettle of soup simmering on the stove and plenty of light. If loved ones are traveling to join you–or vice versa–may all be kept safe on the journey.
All this reminds me of another pair of stranded travelers, long, long ago. They couldn’t get a hotel room, either, and bedding down on the floor of a crowded airport would certainly have been an improvement over dirty straw…
