listening to the silence

hemlock haven

It truly feels like winter in these woods. The ground has been consistently covered with snow, and the temperatures dipped below zero for several consecutive days this past week. I even ventured out across the lake on my skis - thick, solid ice underneath.

In contrast to recent years in which we’ve had frequently fluctuating temperatures and precipitation — teens to 40s, snow to rain, and everything in between — I'm noticing how settling and grounding it actually feels to my entire being. Like I've been tucked under a blanket for hibernation.