The good news is that my toes will finally have a chance to thaw out. I was sure they'd have to come off, after the last few weeks. I was expecting them to turn black with frostbite any day now. Well, it's out of the freezing pan and into the fire. Mmm, I'll have a reason for making iced tea now, too. I guess it isn't all bad, despite Sluggo's impending heat stroke. But I'm sure that still more flowers will bloom. Oh, will they be surprised when mid-February brings sleet and hail!
It's been nice tonight, though. There's been a bit of wind, and the moon is still bright enough to reveal the swaying of the pines. The mulberry tree is casting its winter brocade of shadows, which quivers slightly with the stronger gusts. I savor the cold, and listen to the owls hoot. Once in a while, a pine cone falls, setting up a clatter that evokes an oddly festive feeling, like a party noisemaker. If there were still leaves to be blown down, they'd most likely remind me of confetti. It's a good time for a party, though tonight I was the only guest. Maybe tomorrow night the deer will attend.