February19, 2010. Farm, Pa. Hot and cold.

No animals are seen around the farm and even though the bird seeds were put out this morning, no birds are coming to visit. The high snow must be hard on the creatures of the forest. Even the woods have snow covering all the ground. We were wondering where all the animals go during a winter such as this. Then we drove down to the little rental house and discovered that areas in the yard looked like the old game of fox and hen. At first I thought that children must have come by to play in the yard, making rounds of soil where the snow is all pushed aside, with paths from one round to the other, three round spots in all, each about four feet across. Then we looked more closely and decided that the deer made these nests and bedded down for their rest. Just down the road when leaving, we spotted eight deer pawing through the snow looking for food.

Our friends here like the snow, as it protects the ground from getting too deeply frozen. They say the ground is always easier to work after a big snow. Snow is easier than freezing weather on the animals, say the farmers. We are hoping that snow kills more ticks than with a more moderate winter, but we don't really know. For us humans, hotter is better, but only so far up the gauge and cold is better experienced from inside when you are 72. The heat of the sun pouring into the big windows at the hill house are wonderful to behold, while in Mexico we stay under shade when the sun is out. Reading with sun coming across your shoulder keeps you warm but only when inside. It certainly felt good today, with the snow outside and the sun on the inside. A perfect combination.