I have taken a day of rest today. Can’t say I have done much of anything today. Slept in until 10:00 again this morning. I could get used to that! So nice to actually get some sleep. I woke up several times during the night but was able to go back to sleep fairly quickly. But as is normal for me, when I get lots of sleep I am more tired during the day. Could take a nap if I let myself do so but will try to stay awake so I can sleep again tonight.
I woke up this morning just as the sun was coming up. It was a bright red ball on the horizon. Clouds were just above it as it rose. Took my breath away it was so beautiful. I tried taking a picture of it but it didn’t capture the beauty very well.
The wind started howling around midnight last night and only picked up in intensity as the night progressed. It started snowing around 8:00. I haven’t seen a blizzard like this one for a long time. Most of the day I couldn’t see the fence in the back yard or the road in the front yard. Have a four-foot drift in the front yard on the fenced in area. In the back yard the snow is to the top of the retaining wall where it is over six-foot tall.
Went down around 4:00 to check on the chickens. Almost got blown over from the wind on the way down to the coop. All is well inside the coop. They even gave me seven eggs todays. It was a struggle to walk into the wind coming back up to the house. My new insulated pants came in handy today. I stayed nice and warm. Felt a bit like a stuffed teddy bear but what ever works – right?
I can’t get out of my driveway without shoveling. Trusting by tomorrow or Tuesday it will be melted down and I can get out. It is to be sunny and in the mid 30’s tomorrow and Wednesday. That should take care of the snow. Hard to tell how much snow we actually got as it has been so windy. There are lots of bare places and lots of deep drifts all over the yard. There is a layer of ice below the snow.
The sun came out for about ten minutes while I was doing chicken chores. It has gone back behind clouds again. Sure was beautiful when the sun was out and shining on the snow. Forecast calls for the wind to slow down soon and the clouds to roll on out of here later this evening. It will be beautiful when the moon comes up tonight and shines on the snow.
I still have tomorrow to get ready for my retreat. I have some more cleaning to get done that I was going to do today and haven’t gotten done yet. Sure glad I went to the grocery store yesterday and won’t have to get out tomorrow. By Tuesday everything should be back to normal road conditions.
The dogs spent the day in the garage under the heat lamp – or at least fairly close to it. They are getting outside now that things are calming down. The chickens hadn’t ventured out of their coop. I closed their door when I went down this afternoon so they will stay a bit warmer tonight. I will need to remember to go down in the morning and let them out. The cats went outside and turned around quickly and came back inside.
Spent some time having a good phone conversation with a dear friend of mine this afternoon. Always good to catch up with her. Not sure why I don’t call her more often.
Still sitting in my peaceful valley, full of anticipation and excitement about my retreat. The jet lag feels like it is behind me. Grateful it went away as quick as it did. Feels like all sorts of possibilities are in front of me to step into. Am working to stay present with this moment and not get ahead of myself.
Grateful for my fireplace to keep me extra warm during the blizzard today, grateful for the beauty that the snow provides, and grateful for a rest day so I can go into my retreat feeling rested and ready to go!