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9 December~2007
After horse rescue I stayed closer to home this weekend, because it was a snowy one. The exception was the walks I took with Ben and Maggie, in the very western weather. I found the new ice armour mittens I got recently work like a charm - I have never had anything that keeps my hands so warm.
The way to use mittens is to not put them on until your hands start to hurt, which draws blood closer to the surface, and makes the mittens more effective.
Over the years I have learned what it takes to stay warm in extreme cold. The walk today in 10 degrees felt like nothing. When I camp in winter I take two sleeping bags. When I am inside my summer bag inside my winter bag it is virtually impossible to be cold.
Down in the snow I found where the fox had climbed up to the top of the cottonwood that fell years ago but still grows from its layed over position. Ben did that once, up to the same spot, and I have pictures of little Boogie climbing the same tree, ten years ago.
Foxes have as much personality as dogs, its just that few of us are around to see it. There was one that seemed to relax when I played my harmonica. When I stopped he would look over to see why.
It seems like I am more aware of the sacred in winter this year, the laying bare of life, the scarcity, the cold honest truth. I have learned how tough you have to be, and I am good at it. Animals tend do sense what is beyond my icy exterior (around people), and maybe that is why we get along so easy.
I pretty much take each day as it comes, right along side Ben and Maggie. I am aware of the richness in my days, the beauty of the winter landscape, the unending friendship of those two.
I have thought a lot about what stories I will tell the three
classes of third graders this friday, and I think I have settled in on
some good ones. I will practice every day until Thursday, to
be ready and confidant about my telling. This will be the
highlight of my Christmas season, along with the visit from my
daughters.
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(to see a 700 pixel wide image of the above collage, click here; to see a 1400 wide pixel image of the above picture, click here.)