Enjoying Winter

Too much of anything usually wears out it's welcome after a while. Winter is no exception. This winter is testing most peoples tolerance a bit. We have been getting one storm after another punctuated by smaller snowfalls and cold weather. We enjoy winter here because it offers a much needed break from the rush to get things done that characterizes summer and fall. Our primitive existence style requires us to go out in all manner of weather. As a result, we've learned to enjoy bad weather as much or more than good weather. You become an active participant instead of an observer. It forces you to pay attention to it.

We are coming up on the best part of winter. The sun is gaining strength. Sitting next to a south facing wall on clear calm day and basking in the sun is a real treat. The evergreen trees brighten up from drab green/brown to verdant at the sun's warm caress and you get deep green trees separating a blue sky from the white snow. You just feel good. Despite the snow cover, spring is in the air and life is good. Scooping horse manure in a t-shirt is a good way to get your the first sun burn of the year. The days are longer and you feel like doing something. (Enough time has past since we went snowshoeing I am tempted to try it again.)

Spring on the other hand is coupled with mud season and at the end, capped off with hordes of black fies. Don't get me wrong, I love spring too, but spring is more promise than substance. It is much ballyhooed and doesn't need PR from me.

I think there is a tendency to try to rush past the last few weeks of winter and that's a shame. I looked at the weather report and the next few days are going to be clear and cold. This will be really good usable winter weather. I need to dig some more firewood out of the snow and bring it into the barn. I am looking forward to this simple chore. I may try to push through to the lumber piles and start digging and thawing them out. (Barn doors may actually materialize this spring.)

I am going to bring down a couple of reclining lawn chairs and put them up against the barn so we can start taking breaks outside. On calm days we'll put the chairs in the horse paddock and take breaks with them. They enjoy sunbathing and there is a certain zen healing of the soul you get from spending time with them. To get the full effect, you have to be in with them, reclining in a lawn chair with your feet up, sun in your face, eyes closed and flirting with a nap. You can feel a common life force with the horses and everything around you. You're not thinking of the past or the future, now is just too sweet to ignore.

Retirement has taught me a valuable lesson I am almost afraid to share. Laziness is just enjoying "now" and not working "now" for some "now" in the future when you might take time to enjoy "now." (I am not sure if four "nows" in one sentence is a record, but it is a good effort anyway.) Perhaps lazy people are visionaries that aren't willing to put off enjoying "now" for some time in the future.

As I get lazier I have a much kinder view of it than I did in my younger days. Also being a visionary is easier for me to take than being just lazy for no particular reason.

Whether your buying my newly formed philosophy or not, this winter has been awesome here at the farm and the best part started a few days ago with that warm sunny day.