It’s Friday, just after New Year’s Day, a cool and crisp day with a morning fog drifting in the meadow. I woke up early again this morning glad that I had cut a little wood last week. First fire I’ve built this year and almost forgot to open the damper, don’t really need a house full of smoke, do I? I’m so glad the cool weather has returned to north Texas. I hope we get snow again this year.
Year before last there was a snow at the ranch that was almost mystical, BIG, BIG GIANT flakes drifted down and hung from the trees in great clumps looking like God’s Christmas tree ornaments, there was a damp wet foggy mist all around, a little like today. I remember being on the porch with coffee, steam rising from my cup and I could see my breath as I watched Lucky, my dog, frolic just off the porch enjoying the first snow in her young life, round and round she ran making her version of snow angels with big halos. That was the same day I remember seeing deer, a buck and a doe, leisurely crossing the meadow out there beyond Lucky’s snow glyphs. With all that snow white background, you can see so much of the wildlife that makes its home here in the woods and meadows.
I went walking that same day with Lucky and with Leo following close behind, Leo with his bright orange “tiger” fur contrasting against the snow, a miniature of the great cats you see in pictures of India. As we walked that day we came across many, many tracks, evidence of all manor of wild things scurrying, hopping, slithering, and yes, rolling in the snow. Up!!! Jumped a rabbit!! and off for a merry chase went Lucky with Bugs Bunny running, hopping, skipping, jumping through the woods and just as quickly Leo found safety again in a nearby tree, with me feeling like the Jingle Bells song, laughing all the way. It was a wonderful day and a good memory.
If you have some memories like these, share them with us, we would love to hear them. Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
