Merry Christmas to you all. We woke up to a pretty good-sized snowstorm, and Maria took a photo of my snow shoveling outfit – boots, sweatpants, a nightshirt, a fleece jacket, a blue hat, gloves and a dog. Red and Fate were out with the sheep, Gus was diving through the snow.

High fashion, farm style. Cold on the toes, also.

This small dog does not seem to notice the snow and the cold. We exchanged some lovely gifts, I got some warm wool socks, which I badly need, and I gave Maria a book of George O’Keefe water colors.

We are holed up for the day, listening to music, reading shoveling. Gus has a rough morning, his Megaesophagus suddenly acted up, he’s struggling today. We had two and a half good days, we were due, I suppose, for a bump or two.

We shoveled for about two hours this morning, I scraped the snow off the slate roof, dug space around the digs, we made paths to the pasture and around the barn. I am sore and tired. But very happy. It is so sweet to be here with Maria and the animals.

We have a frozen pizza in the freezer, but if we can dig out the cars,  we might make a run to Bennington and the Japanese restaurant. Or we might just have some more hot chocolate. More later, and I wish a day of peace, love and compassion for you all.