Winter Evening Reflections

One of the things I really appreciate about our winter months are the beautiful sunsets with the snow in the foreground. The pastel colors showing forth in the sky as the sun goes down really are soothing and eye catching.
     Winter evenings come early and the nights are long. But I have found real contentment in them this year. I've enjoyed ending my day early:  relaxing, sitting by Boyd, reading while he watches sports on TV. I've done some knitting in the evenings, some planning for the next day, and some time just sitting. And I feel that it has been good for me.
     During the spring, summer, and fall I rarely get the chance to just sit. I'm one that enjoys and needs  "alone" time, and that time doesn't come often when you live on a farm/ranch. Because Boyd can become so absorbed in the sports on TV, this time can almost be equal to "alone" time for me.
     It is comforting, though, to have him close! And our elderly dog, Spotty, is always on the back porch this time of the year unless she is following Boyd out through the cows. Spotty is getting quite  cross as she ages, a lot like me, but she still is a comfort to have around. and if anyone comes to the back door she certainly lets s and them know that she is there ready to protect the occupants of her home.
     Our cat, Smokey, decided to come in onto the back porch yesterday, and Spotty let him know that he was not a welcome visitor. Smokey is getting really big and he must be catching lots of mice and other small animals, as his coat is shiny. Of course he begs two or three times a day for the cat food that we give him.

     We received fresh snow yesterday which adds to the beauty of the time of year. Yes, it has been cold and is often miserable to go out in the cold to do chores and take care of the animals like Boyd and the guys have to do. I've tried to have lots of soups and stews ready for them to eat when they come into the house, and we always have hot chocolate available.
     A warm house sure makes us appreciative of what we have as compared to our ancestors. Yes, they had wood and coal burning stoves to keep their homes warm, but most of their homes were without insulation. In some of the old homestead homes at the ranch, we have found walls that have been lined with newspapers. I am sure that was to keep the cold winds from coming in through the cracks between the logs and boards of the outer walls of the house.
     And they usually didn't have a back porch or mud room, where the men could take off their boots and outer clothing before entering into the main part of the house. So mud and snow would be tracked through the house this time of the year. Makes me shiver just thinking of the cold they had to put up with, but inside and outside.