Moon Rise in the Valley

I took this photo in a lull between storms, I think maybe 10 days ago, from my front porch. You can see that with all the snow and a nearly full moon the night becomes the day, making the yard light superfluous. It is absolutely gorgeous, and even Chico pauses in his pre-bedtime marking ritual to survey the landscape.

Sometimes I fret, being at the end of the road, the last house . . . there is nothing to break the wind, it tears into us fresh from the mountains like an eager over-sized puppy sprinting across the field, tongue flapping, bowling us over with its enthusiasm, licking us in the face as we lie helpless, flat on our backs.

Of course I have a choice at that very moment; I can become become irritated and struggle - to no avail - or I can laugh with delight as that cold tongue of winter slobbers all over . . . and I'm happy to report, I am learning to laugh more . . .