Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Only 12 degrees according to the weather report, which means it is probably about 5 degrees colder here since we are in a higher elevation area. We don’t have a thermometer outside anymore but it always registered about 5 degrees colder here.

These pictures are from a hike on the farm on January 18, 2009. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow.

Our Barn

Behind Our Barn

No, not snowing in Kentucky yet. This is from a photograph my husband took in past years.

Snowshoe Heaven

Snowman I drew using the paint program

Right before Christmas my husband and I ordered snowshoes. Internet research said this was a huge calorie burner. During December we had a couple of deep snows. We knew we would have to wait until after Christmas for their arrival. In the meantime, we spent Christmas with my daughter and her husband in North Carolina. We thought we would escape the snow there. Not so. To our surprise the day after Christmas we awoke to approximately eight inches of snow. Meanwhile back in Kentucky the snow was melting. We returned home a couple of days later. We waited patiently, watching the snow melt away. The snowshoes arrived. The temperature got up to 60.

Now the snow is back. Today I wanted to burn those extra calories, but it is oh so cold outside. By mid-afternoon after much debate with myself I finally braved the twenty-five degrees. After all, why did we order these? Hopefully, not for the same reason we purchased the weight machine that takes up space in the corner of the room. Another story. So like Jeremiah Johnson I ventured out into the woods, hiking for an hour. I’m thankful for my one small step out into the snow-covered forest, and one giant step into the exercise regime.

Here are some actual pictures of our snow-covered hiking trails.

A Blanket of Silence – Silent Night, Holy Night

On a couple of occasions when friends have written something, with their permission, I’ve posted on my blog spot. Please enjoy this by my friend, Amy. This fits today, as we woke up to 8″ of snow. There was a blanket of silence. I’m thankful for the gift of silence.

Silent Night, Holy Night

By Amy Smith

Thank you Mother Nature for letting me experience the gift of silence. This will only get to happen a few times in my lifetime, or at least in a suburban setting a few times, for it is not often we get over 2 feet of snow. A storm of this magnitude does bring its challenges and dangers to human life, but it allows an opportunity for reflection and insight that many may miss.

My world has been silenced since the storm started yesterday evening. Mother Nature you are supreme. What else, maybe besides a man-made war or attack such as September 11, could suspend air travel and traffic and force over 10 million people to hunker down in their homes. Thank you. Thank you for the chance to rest and be free of the constant hum of so-called progress; traffic, air travel, noise and light pollution.

What will we do in our homes? Oh no, a scary thought to some. Do we have our DVDs ready, our video games, our hand-held electronic devices? We are going to be so bored. Our computers will save us. That’s it, we will go online and “stay connected.”

What do we do with the other humans in our houses? How do we be with them? Do we have to look at each other? What do we say to each other? There are so many more exciting things I could be doing with this time.

I, on the other hand, am so glad Mother Nature. You are my religion and I bow to you. Your beauty is unimaginable because every time I think I know your beauty and have seen the pinnacle of it, you present another picture of perfection. I will use this time Mother Nature to reflect on my qualities as a person but I will also forget I am a person and realize this world is more than me.

Money is not our God. You are a goddess Mother Nature. Work your magic on the millions of people in this fast-paced region Mother Nature. Show us your power, stop us from being slaves to commercialism for a day or two. Unleash your wrath on us Mother Nature, show us the way. Silent night, holy night.

Snowy Trek

Today I seriously bundled up and ventured out in the woods for an hour of hiking. Two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, two hats, two pairs of sweat pants, a wool sweater, sweatshirt and regular top along with a hooded coat was my attire – Michelin woman. It was somewhere around fifteen degrees. It’s hardly climbing Mount Everest, but for me it was a small victory just braving the outdoors in such cold weather and staying warm. I did stay surprisingly warm – not toasty, but warm. I’m not a cold weather person at all. I’m thankful for the calories burned and for the commune with nature.