Still

Last week nearly three feet of snow fell in a 36-hour period and draped the land as far as we could see.  Wild winds buried the back steps and furnace vent every hour and packed the second floor windows, cloaking the house in snow and leaving rooms dim and funereal. Ground feeders that normally congregate at the compost pile couldn't reach it, as it lay feet below their beaks, and flocked instead to the birdseed by the house, pecking their fill and driving small-boned birds away for a time.  John missed work due to a travel ban, and I hunkered beneath blankets while the children whooped and dug gopher hidey-holes, coming in hours later all crusted thickly with snow, their faces glowing pink and dewy. 

Snowsuits still dry by the fire, but warmth and light return, and the snow begins its slow farewell, sinking inches lower each day and leaving patches of brown that stand out starkly from the blinding white.

It's hard to find traction.  I've been slogging along most days, some days less than others, and even snapshotting has stilled.  A dozen and a half pictures to show for three weeks, and half of them for buildabelly?!  Yes, I hear that collective gasp of horror!  Not to fear.  Daylight grows, and, with it, energy will return.  The next post will may have dozens of pictures to overwhelm the faithful.
(Be wary.)