We look forward to this day for much of the year. The winter hospice is the shortest day of the year, and it reminds us of the coming of crops and then, Spring, the season of color and light. It is an ancient ritual of farmers, counting the minutes until daylight and Spring. Many of them would not survive the winter, and they knew it.

Zinnia and  Fate and I sat together with Maria (above) and watched the fire grow and burn. This is as close to a sacred ritual as we get. Maria took this sweet shot of Minnie and me taking in the fire. Next to Maria,  Zinnia is the most beautiful companion for me, a true soul mate.

Maria and I love to make our annual bonfire and sit out in the cold, getting warm by the fire. Fate and Zinnia are our guests. I took this shot of Maria mesmerized by the fire she built.

I froze for about an hour and a half and then surrendered to the cold and retreated inside. Maria lasted a half-hour longer.

In the meantime, I went out and bought Maria an expensive bottle of wine to celebrate the solstice. She will kill me for it but will love drinking it. I’ll have a sip or two myself.

Welcome to the Winter Solstice. Tomorrow the light will be a few minutes longer than today. Every day beyond that will bring us more light. This path leads to Spring, to the season of hope and light.

In the meantime, I’m ready for the winter pasture.

It was a great bonfire, well built and it burned brightly and quickly. It was warm sitting near the fire. Maria is a farm pack rat; she collects debris and flammable things all year for the solstice bonfire.