23:00 /11 p.m. -- It's 4 degrees F /-15 C out there. Good thing I didn't look before Kate and I went out to play in the snow in the moonlight. It's gorgeous tonight. Moon's nearly full and, with the snow cover, visibility is really good. The wind swept most of the snow off the field just south of the house, especially in the area where the llamas grazed last summer. So footing was good and we capered around in great glee. Kate loves to run full tilt directly at me and veer just slightly at the last second. I crouch and whirl like a bullfighter, and applaud her. Then she charges from a different angle, with a big silly dog-grin on her mug. Ten minutes of that leaves her well-warmed up and panting great clouds of steam.

David, who's house is in the pine grove next to the apple orchard, knocked on the door around 7 p.m. and asked if I'd like my yard plowed out [for free!] He and his brother were there, and he said not to bother to come out. He'd be glad to move the van for me. What a sweetheart!!! He is Maurine's nephew. (She's my best friend here in town.) When I went out to thank him for doing it, he said that if that storm predicted for Thursday warrants it, he'll stop by and brush it out again. He's the nicest one of Richard's kids. He's the one who helped me move Theeny's body out to the burial ground last November.

Copyright 2000 by Silvia Wilson, all rights reserved