We're waiting...

for the snow to come early tomorrow morning and into the evening. Up to a foot near LaCrosse and 4-6 inches around here. The shovel is by the back porch. The snowblower is gassed up and pointed towards the door. If you had anything left to do in the yard it'll have to wait until spring.

It's the trade off of life in these parts. The land is fertile in part because it rests in the cold for six months a year. Snow is water sinking in to the ground as spring emerges, ready for seed and growth and refreshing the lakes. Winter keeps the cockroaches around these parts small and always on the defensive and there's nothing like a night around zero to keep the thugs off the streets. Whether this makes up for the semi-hibernation of these days, the exasperatingly slow pace of traffic, and the possibility of losing a foot to frost bite is still up in the air. Somehow we just do it.

Anyway it was bound to happen. The weather has been wonderful for these parts all through November and whether we want it or not winter and snow are, like death and taxes, inevitable. My boots and snowsuit are ready. The shovel is right outside the back door. There's a full tank of gas in my car and a warm place to spend the night so let er rip.