The Joy of Winter

I think I've said this before, but growing up on a farm in Nebraska made winter my least favorite time of year. All the excitement I should have felt for no school snow days was clouded over by the added number of chores. Admittedly there are few things better than watching a thankful herd of cattle bed down in the fresh dry straw you've just roled out and having the opportunity to spend the day with my dad. I remember the winter we stayed warm solely on our wood burning stove. That was the same time my dad had a shoulder or a knee injury, so chopping wood, halling, splitting and stacking was very much a two person job. Oh, I remember being so cold and tired, but knowing it was impartive that I keep going. Once again, there are few feelings better than sitting in a warm home while a winter storm rages outside.
After moving to Kodiak I found a new joy when snow would fall, and instead of hoping it wasn't going to be very much I instead was praying for lots of snow (it makes for better snow shoeing and cross country skiing). In the middle of January we enjoyed a great bit of winter weather. It quit raining and started snowing and the temperatures stayed under 30 for a week. It was great to head out my back door and put on my skis for an hour or so and just go. Gus and I even skijored with Greyson on my back. Oh the joy of winter.