It’s -6 degrees outside and there is a frozen deer head on my deck. Sometimes in life you wake up and wonder…how on earth did I get here?!? My 20-something or 30-something self didn’t see mornings like this as part of my future. My 40-something self has at least learned to roll with the surprise. Now, I’m considering how to get out of my warm bed and house and warmly transport myself down to feed and take care of the chickens. I’m wondering if my diesel car, which doesn’t like starting in the low digits, will start this morning. Wondering what the hell I’m going to do with the plethora of deer parts, bones, feet, tails, heads that my dogs are so thrilled to bring home thanks to hunting season.

My little cabin was warm and cozy all night with the woodstove working away, but still the windows are edged with frost, on the INSIDE, and the cat has taken up residence UNDER the woodstove. I’m with the cat. I don’t want to leave the house, or even get out of bed, yet chickens and work are calling. Today, I know for certain I am not some tough Northerner who thumbs her nose at such temps. I am at the far northern edge of my range, and if I were a bird, I would’ve flown south a long time ago. I’m pretty damn tough at times, and don’t like to whine, but today I am going to whine; I really don’t like to be cold. There I said it. I am a cold wimp! This born in Texas and mostly California-raised girl is wimping out.

On a positive note, this may just be the first written post to the blog I created more than a year ago but never posted a damn thing to. A cold jump-start to one of this years goals – write for your blog. Maybe I’ll get this up and posted, maybe with a picture of the odd scene of a dead, mangled deer head right outside my window – if only I can remember my password. But for now, it’s time to put on about 18 layers of clothing and go check on those hens, bring in some more wood and see if the car will start. Stay warm people.