An Epiphany

  I never thought I'd say these words, but I am ready for winter to be over.  

At least the morning snow mess is covering up the January/February mud mess.  When I walked up to the barn last night, that mud water puddle was twice the size and twice as deep. Fun times.

One thing trudging to and from the barn in freezing mud and blowing snow and rain and temperatures so cold your fingers actually hurt reveals is how much you love (or don't love) your job and your animals.

I am still grateful to "have to" trudge out there all day and half the night.  I am still happier to have to do that than not have my friends up there waiting for me.  And as I was in the horse stalls cleaning out flooded hay and shavings with icy gravel mixed in the other night I thought of a couple of my friends, now gone, who'd give anything to be out there doing what I was doing.

I'm still ready for a break in the weather, but the gift this winter (besides the sleigh rides, which seem like forever ago) is finding out just how much I love my animal family.

If Pinot's fence hadn't blown over this would be a really pretty picture.  It's still pretty, but it probably makes a better puzzle and you can enjoy that without having to bundle up :-).