This winter, Maria evolved in her role as a Willa Cather Prairie Goddess. She spent many hours shoveling, mostly to keep me from trying to do it. When she’s in the studio, I sneak out and shovel madly. I love the  effect of overexposing one of my lenses in heavy snow. It picks up the color and captures the feel of the moment.

We are talking of returning to New Mexico in the Fall, we’ve started a fund. We could use it right about now, winter has worn us down. My nurse/practitioner ordered me into the health service for a chest X- ray today, and she thought my coughing has gone on a bit too long.

Up here, everyone I know has had long and tough struggles with cold and flue and pneumonia, i think I’m getting better every day, but it takes time and Karen doesn’t care much what i think. I do as I am told, especially by her.

I know she is always careful because of the open heart surgery, and I agree that makes sense. I am  wary of them because they are inclined to send heart patients to the hospital at the first sign of upper respiratory illness.

I think the X-ray went well, I went early in the morning and haven’t heard a thing. I suspect I’ll be taking more medication. I’m feeling stronger every day.