Dead of Winter

Even winter — the hardest season, the most implacable — dreams, as February creeps on, of the flame that will presently melt it away. Everything tires with time, and starts to seek some opposition, to save it from itself. ~Clive Barker, The Hellbound Heart, 1986

It is cold, the brutal cold that makes me question why I am here this time of year. Granted, I can still get excited about an impending snow storm (non-existent so far this year), but when it's 6 degrees at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, that's too damn cold!  Wood fire is roaring and my house is relatively warm, but the wind howling outside seems to penetrate these walls, despite fairly good insulation. So, why am I here?! It is my job that holds me here, a good job that I like, hard to find I know. Plus, the cat Charley, who does not travel well. And hates being left behind. I have this humble abode

that I own and love here in the country, and many good friends. Therefore, I stay.
It has been too cold to take my camera outside the last couple days, so posting a few photos from the past week. There's a bit of snow on the ground but my driveway has yet to be plowed.  Snow in the forecast for Monday night, so who knows?  Maybe a real snow storm.  I'd like that.