Bleak Mid-Winter

I didn't take photos on this grey and dismal day, but this one from earlier in the month portrays our solstice weather.

After two days of relative warmth and sunshine, the weather deteriorated again on Thursday.

By bedtime a drizzle of rain had increased to a steady drumming on the metal roof of the camper. 

Jim, who finds this a snug and cozy situation, went early to bed.

When I joined him more than an hour later, he and several cats had appropriated most of the bed!

I had errands this morning; 3 gallons of Cabots stain to pick up at a hardware store in the next county, then a drive along the back way into town to the chiropractor. 

After, I poked through items on offer at the Goodwill store and braved Wal Mart for a few necessities, each stop resulting in a bit more moisture collecting on jacket and hair.

There was little traffic on the road coming home.

I stopped at the house to lug in the pails of stain, make admiring noises regarding the work of the day.

At the camper I was greeted by Willis the Cat, who poked his head round the shed door, then stepped daintily through wet leaves and gravel to escort me while I brought in groceries.

On this longest of dark evenings the camper seems especially confining--cluttered, untidy.

Still, I have sat to read with a mug of tea, bolstered about with the cats who are sharing my chair.

I have made soup for tomorrow--cream of butternut squash.

The increase of daylight will be slow, mere increments, scarcely noticeable for several weeks.

We live now in a part of the country where winter is more about freezing rain, sometimes sleet, with only an occasional snow of any account.

Accustomed for years to heavy snow, blizzards, temperatures hovering below zero F. we sometimes are amused at the school closings and cancellations here at the first dusting of snow.

Narrow winding roads, a landscape of steep ridges and deep ravines doubtless encourage caution.

In retirement we are blessed with the choice to postpone errands, to stay busy at home.

We may grumble a bit during a run of bleak wet days, but the sun does return!