We woke up to a snow and ice storm, it raged for a few hours and then surrendered to slush. Fate had a good time pretending she is a herding dog, she went into the crouch around Asher and Issachar, but they both ignored her.

Our new sheep have figured Fate out.

In fact, all of the sheep ignored her, but this doesn’t trouble or deter Fate.

She has a great time, and we love watching her seem to work.

In the afternoon, I went to the county’s Motor Vehicle office to get an “enhanced” driver’s license, which will enable me to board any domestic aircraft and also cross back and forth into Canada and Mexico starting next year.

We live just a few hours from Montreal and we are eager to plan a weekend trip there, perhaps after the holidays. Our DMV is pretty cozy, it was unusually crowded – there were eight people in line. My DMV nightmares in New York City and New Jersey haunt me still, huge crowds endless lines, angry people and staff.

I had all the paperwork I needed – passport, Social Security card, two proofs of residence. I smiled for the photo.

And yes, I do remember when my family and I could just drive across the Canadian border, we just drove through customs and back. Life does get more complicated, but does that make us better or safer? I don’t know.

I always get the sense we are looking for danger in all of the wrong places.

The snow was beautiful this morning while it lasted. We got to exercise our snow muscles, and we are already talking about how we feel about the holidays and about the coming winter.  We count ourselves among those people who find the holidays difficult.

We are staying on the farm for Thanksgiving, heading to some lovely inn for Christmas eve.

The dark days are upon us and we both are color and light people, I need to make some adjustments.