"Winter"

Good morning. Here comes the sun. Winter has come to our cabin in the woods. Burrrr! Gypsy and I are dealing with it best we can. I put on many layers of clothing and Gypsy gets covered with her favorite blanket while she sleeps. We like the cooler weather, but , sometimes it gets alittle too cold for us. We were greeted by a beautiful, clear too cold a morning to sit on the porch. I poured a pitcher of fresh water into her dish and as I turned to hurry back in the cabin something stired inside my memory of another time and place. I will think about this later and just be happy now to be back in the warm cabin. The fireplace held onto the warmth of yesterday's fire. The smell and sound of my expresso coffee maker on the stove got my attention, telling me to stop the morning chores and pay attention to the arrival of a new day. Gypsy barked with urgency telling me to hurry and open the door. She was very cold. Since it is cold, we will do our meditating inside the cabin, watching the fire in the fireplace, listening to our Christmas music and watching the blue and green lights and decorations sparkle on the Christmas tree standing in Grandmother Milnor's antique, copper, applebutter kettle. Wonderful memories come with this kettle. The kids first memories are of blue and green decorations on the Christmas tree. They object to any changes in this tradition. It is time for me to give thanks for all the wonderful memories filled by those who touched our lives in so many ways. This is music for my soul.
As the sunrise came, the clouds were orange with a dark, gray edge, surrounded by a very blue sky. It was crystal clear. The trees in the woods filtered the first sunlight with there lacey branches, filling our eyes with impressions that will be stored in our memories for another time. As the sun moved higher up the horizon, the light around it became a blinding, white, silvery glow, too bright to look at very long. The camera in my mind snapped this picture providing fuel for my mind. Some white clouds have drifted over the sun and softened the light that will lead us into another day.
The smell of wood burning in the cabin fireplace took me to another time and place. It reminded me of the Christmas Holiday's our family, Nick, Sarah, Daniel and John and I spent at our Tie Siding, Wyoming Ranch. Tie Siding was one store on highway 287, just south of Laramie. It housed a library, post office and grocery store. It marked the corner where we turned onto the Cherakee Park road that went to our ranch roads. The snows came early here at 8000ft where the Cherakee Park Road ended and the cattle guards that marked the beginning of the 5M (5Milnors) ranch roads began. The first ranch road was to our good friend's Juan and Joni's house. The second ranch road went to our log house. Often when we arrived the pinon and ponderosa pine trees and the mountains were covered with a fresh, white snow. Sometimes the drifts were so deep we could not open the doors to the house. Animal tracks made snowflake like patterns in the snow. During the day the sky was blue mingled with white, fluffy clouds. The wind whistled around corners and windows and through the trees. At night the landscape took on a blue color as the moon brushed it's light over the snow. This was a magical light. It created a winter wonderland.
There were fires burning in the fireplaces as the kids were bundling up to go sledding and ride the snow mobiles. There tracks joining the animal tracks for their adventures in the snow. We had decorated a Christmas tree and wrapped gifts. All was well. Just to be at a place like this was a gift to our family. We realize where we are now is a small version of the Wyoming ranch. The memory called me back until I found this cabin in the woods. I count my blessings from the past and look to the blessings of the present. There are many.
The gifts are hidden where wandering eyes cannot find them. The Christmas music is playing softly as it finds and winds around the Christmas decorations you so carefully placed around your house. You have been thinking about what gifts to get for all the special people in your life and are wondering when you will have time to shop for them. You think about Baby Jesus and His journey. You think about your journey and all those whoe shadow crossed your path. What a great time of the year to remember old friends and be thankful for new ones. Blessings fall on us like raindrops from heaven. All we have to do is close are unbrellas.