Cold!
That's it, in a nutshell. It's that time of year... the second week of January (for those of you who are local... the week of the Pennsylvania Farm Show is always this particular week of the year, and invariably the coldest week of the year!) This week has decided to live up to its reputation.
With temperatures this low, no melting occurs during the day.
Our world is frozen right now... making chore times treacherous. We go nowhere without ice cleats on our boots!
It's the kind of weather that has the chickens surveying their options and voting "no thank-you" on the idea of venturing out of their houses.
We keep their front doors just ajar, to help keep the cold winds from entering.
Those that leave, grab a quick snack...
and head over to the goat shed (The Café) for some gossip and commiseration.
Yesterday morning, as the sun was rising, I headed to the warmest place I know... Maven Haven.
I built a toasty fire in my little pot-belly stove which heated up this 8 X 12 X 10 space in no time.
I heated a kettle of water...
And settled in to do some concentrated knitting -
a project I've named Ketchup and Mustard. I am concentrating on stash-busting projects in an attempt to use up my yarn supply.
Back to back, at my feet, on the rug that I made from our sheep's wool - were my trusty companions - who really enjoyed the ultra-warmth of the stove and the thick wool beneath them. It occurs to me that if we ever add a third dog, I will need to make a bigger rug! That, or add a very small dog!
Outside, the bitter winds blew...
providing the backdrop of tinkling wind chimes and the occasional clawing scrape of an ice-laden branch across the roof above. No birdsongs on this cold day, except the "caw" of two crows passing overhead.
Inside, the crackle of logs, the sizzle of water droplets leaping from the boiling teakettle onto the stove, and the contented sighs of slumbering dogs only serve to add to the profound serenity of the space.
An introvert at heart - with the passage of time, I have grown to cherish these slow, quiet days. To me, they are Winter's gift. After the busy-ness that the other three seasons impart, taking a break to recharge both mentally and physically is natural. This period of dormancy serves the land... and so, it serves me, as well! I often wonder what it would be like to live in a place without these distinct seasons. Would I ever rest? I fear not. And that is just one more reason why I do not long for warmer climates.
Comments
I vote for a bigger rug! I miss Sammie.
Stay toasty! We may be getting snow this weekend. Yee-haw!
We moved south once and after 18 months we headed back to our northern roots. Very cold here today and wishing there was snow to pretty everything up!
What are you making with your ketchup and mustard stash?
The chickens are smart. No reason to go out in this if you don’t have to.
Maven haven looks very cozy. Perfect place for some alone time.
you have lots of pretty skies in this post.
Xxoo