This Is Why I'll Never Move South

 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...


for tea.

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

daisy g said…
Yes ma'am! I see the quality of my life improving with each passing season. Having lived in Florida for over 40 years, I am so grateful to now be able to enjoy the changes in nature all around me. There are changes in FL, but they are much more subtle.

I vote for a bigger rug! I miss Sammie.

Stay toasty! We may be getting snow this weekend. Yee-haw!
That is a perfect way to spend a cold winter's day! Love that your trusty pups are there with you resting too. Looks so cozy and inviting.

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?
Jeannie said…
I love this post. I have always lived in the South and I envy you and your cold weather. What a delightful way to spend the day---in a cozy cabin by the fire with your dogs.
THE BEARDED ONE said…
WELL...TECHINALLY I LIVE IN THE SOUTH...MIDDLE TENNESSEE...BUT WE HAVE SOME MIGHTY COLD DAYS...TODAY IT IS ONLY 22* BUT...THE WIND MAKES IT FEEL CLOSER TO ZERO...AND WE ARE SURE GRATEFUL TO HAVE OUR SNOW GONE...SMILING..YOU ARE SUCH AN AMAZING LADY...YOU SURE HAVE A WAY WW/WORDS...MAKING THE PICTURES LOOK PRETTIER...I REMEMBER THE ICE CLEATS FROM LAST WINTER AND YOU TOLD ME WHERE TO GET THEM FOR OUR GRANDSON...SINCE WHEN IT IS SNOW AND ICE HE CAN WALK THE 7'S OF A MILE TO WORK...HE LIVES ON A NOLL BUT..THERE IS A VERY STEEP HILL UP AND DOWN BEFORE HE GETS TO THE HOSPITAL/NURSING HOME WHERE HE WORKS AND THEY HAVE SURE COME IN HANDYH FOR HIM...THANK YOU MANY TIMES OVER... LOVE THESEE..HAVE A SUPER DAY AND STAY OUT OF THE BITTER COLD !!!
Jody in Georgia said…
Well, much as I enjoyed the memories from today's blog, I was born in Pennsylvania, raised in Minnesota and have lived in Georgia for many years now. It does get cold here...I took a teakettle of hot water out this morning to thaw the ice on the birdbath...but I remember my childhood days in the orchard on our farm in Minnesota....we could scoop out a room in the big snowdrifts and had such fun playing in our "igloo". But at this stage of my life, Georgia is just perfect for me and I am thankful every day that I am where I am!! Thank you for your blog....I look forward to it every morning during the week.

This N That said…
I have always enjoyed the change of seasons as well, because the one you like the least will soon be gone but that’s also true of the one you like the best. When it comes to the weather changes often a good thing. No melting this week, that’s for sure. I like your ice cleats… They seem to come up further on the foot than the ones that I have had. I have lost a lot of them in the snow which seems to pull them off if it’s deep.
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
deodar said…
Besides which, the bugs die in the cold. I don't like bugs.