Looking Forward

As usual, Brian and I were safely tucked up in bed before the New Year arrived. I awoke briefly at midnight to hear gunfire and fireworks, and snuggled down, happy to let the celebrations go on without me.  We are more than happy to bid 2013 goodbye.  It has been a difficult year in many ways, and we are hoping 2014 will be a little kinder to us.

Once again, bad weather put a crimp in our Holiday plans.  A much-anticipated visit from our daughter and family had to be delayed until Friday, but they arrived safely and we crammed as much into their shortened stay as possible.

An all too brief thaw melted the ice from the trees, and some have recovered quite nicely, while others will probably not survive.

The brief thaw, followed by a hard freeze has made footing difficult and dangerous.  I am having a hard time finding safe places to walk Abbie.  The trail on our own ‘back forty’ is uneven, with ice hiding under fresh snow.  Even the dogs have difficulty keeping their footing on it.  The road to the campground in the Park was plowed a week or so ago, but now a couple of inches of fresh snow hides icy patches making every step uncertain.

But the Solstice is past.  Each day the sun moves a little closer, and the days are becoming imperceptibly longer.  I know it will be many weeks before we are out of the Deep Freeze, but brighter, longer days will help to lift spirits as we turn our thoughts towards Spring.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy 2014.