Today and tomorrow, more cold, more sub-zero weather. More preparations – graining the animals, chipping away at the manure piles, which freeze instantly to the ground, freeing the water buckets from the frozen ground so they can be cleaned out and replenished, digging out the paths that are continuously blown over by the wind, salting the frozen steps to the house, working to remove ice dams from the roof, hauling in wood from the shed and the frozen piles outside, scraping off the cars.

This kind of winter demands preparation, and it also asks for patience. More cold weather and some snow for this weekend, looks like a moderate warming up next week, only one subzero day. The light and the sun tell us Spring is close, I can see it in my photographs. I am so grateful for Maria this weekend, we work so well together, there is little complaining, a lot of acceptance. I am grateful for the heated blanket I finally broke down and bought, it makes getting into bed the nicest thing on a -20 night.

Saturday off to NYC for the day and one night to cheer on the New York Carriage Horses and, hopefully see my daughter and her fiance. The Patriarchy is eager to see his offspring.