Winter Solstice 08

Yes, it is the first day of winter and I can prove it. Check out the "hot" off the press photos of - let me see - Blizzard number 4 I think. I am snowed in. Have been for 2 days. How I wish I knitted but I make cookies and I read while listening to lovely music. Bashey doesn't know how to cope with the deep snow over his shoulders. He doesn't leap well anymore so I stomp paths for him. The snow is over my knees up to mid-thigh. We went out awile to go to shovel the barn doors out where the car is stowed. Then we shoveled the cellar doors out on the house and I moved all the baked goodies I had for the party yesterday, which I didn't get to, to the freezer down below. Yesterday was a day of sad reflection but we must move on. I had so looked forward to spending some quality time with all my family. The storm of 12" and then never stopped snowing caused my two ride options to decline going. It is still snowing going on 48 hours. We have a total of more than 20" and it is still coming down. Tonight the wind is to blow 40 and the temp to drop into the minus digits. I am anxious about the severe cold.

As of this writing though, I am drinking a strong cup of coffee laced with brandy. I pray my loved ones who did make the trip to MA travel safely home this morning. This is the day we must bring in the Light since it is the darkest day of the year. It is the fourth sunday of Advent for Christian worshippers everywhere. I will not make it to church this morning but have candles lit all over my house in honor of the Light. Our Pagan ancesters built huge fires outside where they sang and danced hoping to hold onto the diminishing Light that seemed to be failing them. Then, of course, in the next few weeks following Solstice they would begin to notice that their ministrations had worked and the Light was increasing gradually. As God tells me everyday I live, "Trust In Me".