Stuck their tongues out in a row…

Today it feels like winter, finally. It was a crispy 28º F when I got home last night. Yeah, yeah, I know. For all you folks in The Great White North, that ain’t nuthin’, but around here that’s crispity-cold.

This morning when I woke up the sheets were that perfect warm that tells you the air outside of them is chilly and that the hardwood floors are freezing. I lingered for quite some time, but eventually got up to fresh baked muffins. When Corrie Ann bakes, it’s a sure sign winter is here. I got myself cleaned up and dressed for work, got my jacket and mittens out of mothballs, wrapped a couple of muffins up for the commute to work, and headed out the door.

There was frost on the ground and the water bottle I keep in the car was frozen. The grass was crunchy and glistening with that silvery-green haze. There was a low fog in the lower pasture. It was very lovely. All through the drive to work I spotted chimneys going and drove through clouds of wood smoke. I love that smell. Even the shores of the lake near work were ringed with thin layers of ice and all the puddles of water along the side of the road had that sharp sheen that tells you they’re frozen over. I love everything about winter. Forecast says there’s even a slight chance of snow next week. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

I’ve been a little bummed lately because it was looking more and more like this winter was going to be a very mild one. This area cycles and I know we’re probably due for a snowless winter sometime soon. I’m hoping this year isn’t the year. I hope this morning is a sign it’s not.

Finally, I spotted this meme over on revjim’s blog and thought I’d give it a shot. The results are interesting:

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when everything is uncertain, one moment heaven… the next moment hell. You’d like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy. You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything… no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something that will confine you. You are afraid of marriage. In this moment, you think of love as something you don’t need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now.