The winds howled as Dad crawled back into bed. The radio forecast crackled a tune of 20 below with a good chance of more snow as he pulled the covers over his head. A slow thaw occurred after his midnight stroll where he fed the furnace, checked the milkhouse heater and stacked a couple more bales on the pumphouse door.

It was January on the farm with no trips down south on the horizon. A season of frozen drinking cups, cold metal repairs and chapped hands that prayed for warmer days ahead. The stars at night are big and bright….deep in the heart of Winter!