snow days

 

 

a blue sky + snow = BLISS.

this walk was so quiet.

tranquil.

when i stopped moving to take a picture it was just the sound of the freezing trickling creek, a crow, and kiki's paws in the snow. i threw my pocketfull of oats under brambles and in deep footprints for the birds and the deer. i blinked at the sunlight. my nose was frozen but my feet were warm. i had my pajama pants on underneath my jeans. that's a little secret my husband taught me. stuff the pajama pants into your socks so they won't ride up while you put on your jeans. winter aint half bad since i learned that little trick.

i like to see blackberries in january. i like how they hang on, shriveled but determined, and remind me of summer, when the fields were green, not white.

and heading home, there it was: a tiny bird's nest, long deserted.

who built it? a sparrow? a coal tit?

how long did it take?

it's sitting now, that intricate brown grassy miracle, among my other tiny treasures. 

and i thought, while i carefully took it down from a low branch, that this must be a token of appreciation from the birds who are eating the grains i toss by the creek bed. the birds who live out here, on icy boughs and in dark tree cubbies;

brave, patient, hopeful. 

we can learn so much from birds.

xo country girl

p.s.

i hear you like chocolate. 

you'll love the black tie cookie recipe i made.

i'll share it with you tomorrow.

p.p.s. thank you, everyone, for sharing in the beauty of simple things yesterday...it was an absolute joy to read all the kind notes you left me!

TODAY, ONE YEAR AGO: more magical snow!