Since we've moved the cows to their winter abode, I now have a commute longer than the 25 steps from my back door to the barn door. (Now, I take 5 steps to the van door and drive for 10 minutes.) Here's today's 'word picture' of that drive.
Crisp shivery air. Jack Frost has left his sparkly signature on everything in sight. Trees are wreathed in silver, the air is full of crystal haze, a dusting of snow shimmers the ground. There is a crunching underfoot as I scamper to my vehicle. Icicles tinkle as they snap loose from the van door and shatter on the ground. I noticed that all the nature sounds are clear and cold this morning while all the man-made sounds are low and grumbly. Like the van as it growls it's 'why are you starting me up on such a cooooooolllldddd morning?' rumble. (Also like the children of mine as they grudgingly roll out of their cozy warm beds, dress, and bundle for the chilly weather.)
Driving to the barn, you see signs of winter's arrival everywhere. The van thermometer showing a 'balmy' 4 degrees. Snow in the ditches, frost on the trees, ice on the ponds. The prickle in your nose as you breathe a bit too deeply of the brisk morning air.
At the barn, there's signs of Old Man Winter settling in as well. Snow dusted cows come walking in the barn, water tanks have frozen, calves bellow their disagreement at finding their feeders are cold (until warmed by the milk, that is), chore hands find chapped hands and cold toes a normal thing.
Yes, winter is here.
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