We returned this morning from our one-day retreat to our favorite in in Vermont, they know us there – we had our honeymoon and most anniversaries there, we get our favorite room with a big bathtub, we just needed a break from our Arctic winter, and it was a beautiful thing to do. Sunday nights the rates are low, the food was wonderful – rainbow trout – we slept, walked up a steep hill, read, loved one another, we took a deep breath and are counting down to warmer, saner, less dramatic weather.

It feels like family to us there, only better and safer. It is so comfortable and familiar, this has always been a place for us to rest and celebrate our love, a miracle to me, I hope for Maria. Love is the best tonic for almost anything, including this Siberian winter. We got home just in time to meet the newest arctic cold front – cold and windy – and while there is much snow left in the forecast, not big snow, I don’t think, just the days-long barrage we are used to. Red was happy to see us, he was alone in the house without other dogs for the first time, but he was with Deb Foster, and the two of them seem to have a sweet time together.

Flo paid no attention to either of us when we came in, of course, an Minnie is in the dark basement where she loves to spend her days, a barn cat still. I took some flowers off of the windowsill and took them out to the pasture to photograph them, I like the juxtaposition of flowers and warmth against the oddly barren landscape.

We are re-charged, taking a deep breath, we had to shovel our way into the back door, of course. We were weary and had winter heads. This is better. But winter is losing it’s grip, even if it has a few more bites in it, winter is leaving my head and my state of mind. This afternoon, work on my book, a trek to the gym. Even though it is barely visible, home is still better than any other place I got. But I think I am going to NYC next Sunday to join the rally in Central Park for the New York Carriage Horses – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Maria wants to come also.