It snowed yesterday. Outside in the apple tree, a cardinal sat, taking it all in.
Inside I sat, writing this.
It's been hectic lately, so please bear with me – I'll be back with more about hats, the art of firewood cutting, and the Rocket Dog before long. 
I'm enjoying this morning. It's very early and cold all around, but I'm bundled up in my "Lord of the Manor" robe and high boots, drinking cocoa and listening to the radio while writing in my blog. The fire in the background is starting to warm the room, everyone else is asleep still. 
I'm using headphones to listen to a retro 50's theme station called Illinois Street Lounge on Soma-FM - the piece I'm hearing right now is Zofka - Une Derniere Fois...very fun and energetic. Soma-FM is "extremely independent" listener-supported radio from San Francisco. They have 11 channels, each odd and interesting.
I love being able to tune in the world while enjoying the remoteness and quiet of the forest and fields around the house.
The quietness of the old stone house is peaceful and conducive to creativity, or so I find. An example is a new exhibition of light paintings called Pinturas de la Luz: Morro Group. These images were made by using long exposures, which allowed light to trace across the screen, composing spatial volumes and energy. Although there is some control through the motion of the camera during exposure and the length of the exposure, the interaction of various light sources and their respective intensities combines in ways that can't be predicted. The result is a kind of collaboration between preparation and chance, and between artist and scene.
Well, we're back. From one extreme to another.
There:
Here:
Getting back to the Farm I found the chickens in fine shape, thanks to our good neighbors Grant and Charlie who came up every three days to check the water and feed.
Rocket Dog loved the snow and pranced and cavorted in twirlings of insane joy, snuffling under the white stuff to find mice or racing from one tree to another.
I was lost in the beauty at times but was soon caught up in reality by notices like the following from the Emergency Advisory service:
THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO THE STATE
AND WILL STAY IN PLACE WELL INTO THE NEW WORK WEEK. THE
COMBINATION OF LOW TEMPS BETWEEN 5 & 10 ABOVE ZERO.AND
A GUSTY WIND OUT OF THE WEST WILL CAUSE WIND CHILL READINGS TO
AVERAGE 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO FOR A TIME LATER TONIGHT AND
EARLY MONDAY.
WHILE THE WIND CHILL READINGS WILL CREEP UP FOR A TIME LATER
MONDAY MORNING.IT WILL STILL BE VERY COLD WITH WIND CHILLS NOT
EXPECTED TO RECOVER MUCH ABOVE ZERO EVEN DURING THE AFTERNOON
HRS. THE BITTER COLD WILL CONTINUE INTO MON NIGHT & EARLY
TUESDAY WHEN AN ADVISORY MAY ONCE AGAIN BE NEEDED.
Brr…. It’s cold up here. And we’re getting low on firewood. The idea of a little hacienda on some balmy-breezed island begins to have some real appeal. 
