I was foolish today. I took some late afternoon photos outside and left my gloves inside to work the camera shutter.

Four of those fingers got frostbite during a storm at the first Bedlam Farm, and when I go out in the cold like this, the pain is severe and immediate if those fingers are exposed to bitter cold. It hurt. When will I learn?

I got inside and rubbed my hands briefly before they stopped hurting. This was more of a storm than I expected. I learned my lesson.

I loved being out there, though; the winter pasture is beautiful.

And I had company. Zip, who never follows anybody into the pasture, follows me, even in the driving snow. None of our barn cats have come out in this kind of snow, not to my memory.

He was right by my side, visiting the donkeys and a couple of sheep. This cat is fearless and is not afraid of anything that we have encountered so far. When I went out to clean off the car, he was right alongside me every step of the way. He’s a good friend and a precious addition to the farm. When I came up earlier, he was sitting up in the roost with the chickens as if he were one of them. They didn’t mind.

My favorite landscape photo was different today. It’s still snowing.

Zip walks up to Asher, and they touch noses.

The donkeys are at ease with Zip; they let him walk in the middle of their hay feeder without complaint or protest. He has no fear of them but only walks in the pasture like this with me; he goes out into the marshes when none of the animals are around. This was nice to see. Zip is at home here.

Still life. My Christmas Angel, below,  makes me feel warmth and hope.