January

Where I live, January is a cold and dark month. The sun comes up halfway through the morning and sets halfway through the afternoon, and when it is up, it is so low on the horizon that it is something like twilight much of the time. To those who live on a lower parallel, this probably sounds depressing (and I will admit it can be), but there is nothing quite so nice as wrapping things up early and sitting in the recliner by the wood stove to read a good book.

Every day I walk my dog on the trail down by the river--she in her dog booties and I in my parka and sorels--where the trees and brush are covered with thick sparkling frost from the freezing vapor that rises from the water, and I am awed by the beauty of creation.