Little Luxuries of Winter

Somehow, in the heart of winter, 

our "January thaw" has lingered on for weeks and weeks, 

an unheard of predicament for North Idaho...the newspaper just reported  that never

 in the historical records has the snowfall here been so low, or the typical "thaw" lasted so long.

While it is lovely out, agrarian folks like us are concerned about the "snow pack" in the mountains that provides us with plenty of water all summer- 

which keeps the landscape a lovely green right into fall, 

and more importantly, minimizes the danger of forest fire.

But, that said, we concur with "Pa" 

(from the Little House series, which we are currently rereading aloud) 

"There is no great loss without some small gain."

These small gains are the blessings of today, 

our little luxuries of winter, such as it is.

 The wood pile blessing:  Our initial 10 cord is holding up well.  This, by the way, is the shed we built last summer, of which, I never did post the finished pictures of, till now.

Egg production blessing:  Ben's hens are so happy with the weather, they have not sloughed off in their laying at all thus far.  He is in business now; selling eggs, purchasing the feed, keeping records daily.  He is very proud of a regular dozen a day.

Blessings In The Dairy:  These two are due to kid in a few weeks.  If the mild weather holds, that will be beneficial for the tiny newborns, giving them a little easier start in life.  Meanwhile, the does are looking especially well and plump.



Blessings For The Children:  They are fully appreciating sunshine and warm temperatures each afternoon as they ramble off to play in the woods.  Yesterday their play was near the creek-

 Today, they are homesteaders-

 

For me, the soothing continuity of our daily routine, 

curling up by the fire with a fragrant cup of tea,  

the sun shining through the windows,

 these are a few of the blessings I am counting today,

 my little luxuries of winter.

What are yours?