I step out into the darkness.
The morning feels crisp, but it's just cold, not COLD. The door behind me closes and instantly its window fogs over. I watch for a moment while my bundled kid disappears from my view even more as he breathes on the glass. That distant growing humming squealing squeaking of the school bus echos off the barn. He's ready and waiting. I speed through a list in my head, and yes, I do believe we remembered everything today. I turn and head towards the barn.
I've got garden dirt all over my hands in January. It makes me smile. I'm sorting through these living treasures in my warm house. The paper grocery bag crinkles as I roll them around, choosing. My potatoes have sprouted, but they're still usable. I make my selection, and then have mud running over my hands as I rinse them off in the sink.
Next summer's garden is on my mind.
Two and a half bulbs of garlic remain in a lunch-sized paper bag. Onions too, some mine, some from a neighbor, some trying to grow. Carrots from a pink plastic bag that was tucked into the least accessible corner of my fridge last fall. Broth from my freezer, from my crock-pot, from my own chicken, from my hand. Soup that fills my soul. A higher level of satisfaction than simply cutting, chopping, stirring the pot. Providing.
The forecast mocks me from across the room. I want to check my email, and I can't continue this blissful ignorance. My eyes go straight to our low for tonight. It's that number.
I groan.
It's that big fat curvy number that even the hardiest of us prairie dwellers must admit is... well, sort of cold. It's that number where I weigh the risk of someone getting his tail feathers in a heat lamp and burning the whole barn down, versus the benefit that little bit of heat might give.
I had such hope we wouldn't go there this winter.
-20F
And the wind. There it is, an Extreme Cold Warning.
I think I have a garden to plan.
11 comments:
Ack. We're there. The school I work at is closed today due to cold. It's -46 celsius with wind chill. I can't even do the math for farenheit. (Ok, so I can. It's -50.8.) The heat is cranked. The kitty is vegging in the sun. And I'm at my laptop editing some newborn pics. Life is pretty good. ;)
Well that's awfully cold. It's definitely NOT that cold here, thank goodness!
Garden planning already? I suppose it's almost that time.. 3 more months.
UGH! I am NEVER moving to North Dakota (note to self: be careful about saying "never"). Sounds like time to hunker down and snuggle in. Hope you all stay warm and your barn is still standing tomorrow!
We aren't leaving our house today except to mail a letter and pick up the delivered mail....and to bring the pup in tonight, too (he does have a heat lamp). My "garden porn" starting rolling in the other day. Perfect, perfect timing!
Brrr, sounds like you're giving Siberia a run for their money!
Okay I had a comment ready to go until I read "garden porn" above. Umm, what?!?! Maybe you should go back to approving comments.
I'm dreaming about my garden, too. Trying to figure out what to cut out to make it as simple as possible for myself this year. But still dreaming nonetheless.
And with no snow, this cold is a little worrisome.
Hahah. Well, ummm... I'm certain I had nothing to do with that descriptive term:
http://www.oldnicholsfarm.com/2010/01/winter-dreaming_02.html
Suddenly I feel much better about being stuck on my hands and knees picking mac nuts for 2.5 hours/day in Hawaii. Thanks for making it all come clear for me why I'm here!
Ug, I hear you. Stay warm, and enjoy that summer planning!
Wasn't our winter so nice for a while there? Oh, well, we knew it had to come at some point!
It's just too bad that we lost 70 degrees in a day, ya know?
And you even more!
OK, you're right. That's cold. You win for sure! It's 50 degrees warmer here. Of course, it's still below freezing, but dang. It ain't MINUS TWENTY. Yikes.
Post a Comment