To our friends scattered to and fro,

Hello from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.. I love warm weather.. I could go on and on about the glories of summertime.. But there’s something about a snow day that can’t be beat.  Recently we’ve heard forecast after forecast of snow and subzero temperatures to come.. Julia and Sherman are finally able to move all of their furniture out of our family room into their house. Thus allowing us to be able to access our wood stove.. So last night, as I returned to Paradise Lane I was greeted by the sight of smoke lazily drifting out of the chimney.. Mother was getting ready.. Would the snow come?

This morn, my alarm went off.. The suspense was mounting.. I was reminded of back in the day, whenever snow days meant a day home from school.. Julia was quick to assure me.. The Winter Wonderland was starting.. How exciting!

One of my friends has promised me a ride with her horse and sleigh, and finally today, I was able to scratch that one off the bucket list. The experience was unique. I loved it. Somehow the neighbors dog thought it his duty to run beside the horse and bark as hard as he could.. Silly dog.. We created quite the picture..The wind was cold and the snow stung my face.. We laughed at the thought of everyone peering out their windows (as the sound of sleigh bells and a Red Heeler barking, approached) trying to figure out who the frozen riders where.. Julia especially looked well frosted..

I love to lose myself in my imaginations of days gone by and how picturesque and beautiful everything is.. But the wind was cold, and I was really thankful to pile in Jul’s Jeep, crank up the heat and tear for home.. Thanks Lora, for a one of a kind experience!!

Mother- my favorite poetry queen- pulled this one up.. It described my feelings perfectly..

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

-Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

I did allow myself a little time to attempt to capture the beauty of the snow.. Since I had ditched the horse and the Jeep didn’t seem to mind waiting as I photographed the neighbor’s corn thats supposed to be drying down.. A few of the resident beef cows around here..

Sleigh bells ring, Are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening.. A beautiful sight.. I’m so happy and blessed tonight.. I’m living in a Winter Wonderland!  Blessings to you -Kendra

We’ve apparently started a new habit here on Paradise Lane. Its has been becoming a tendency for years, but here recently-it happens everynight.. When Detroit was little- I remember the first night I heard him bark- we were keeping horses that summer for a friend and somehow they got out.. Our juvenille watchdog sounded the alarm. What a good dog..

So he’d bark sometimes- but not excessively- a stray piece of ag bag plastic was on the premise, or a plastic bag.. Or a car was parked somewhere out of place.. Not quite as good of a dog..

But recently-the coyotes have been spotted running past the house, and a black bear.. which is reason to bark.. But my!! All night, every night? And both dogs at full capacity? And usually right beside our equipment shed, where the sound fills the shed, and amplifies, and our house practically vibrates.. Bad dog..

I’m not sure when the first time was that I heard this song.. Mother has sung it for years. I’m sure you recognize it from “The Sound of Music”..

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

So maybe it would be helpful to take this to heart.. “When the dog bites” (or barks).. I wonder if my parents think of this, as they, once again, experience the benifits of an over protective guardian.. “DETROIT! ROLO! FOR THE FIFTH TIME!! BE QUIET!!!!” Usually the war ends with the dogs being ushered into our garage to ponder their misdeeds in silence.. It must be hard to be so unappreciated..

What are your favorite things? I have quite a list.. *Mint tea in the summertime  * Hearing a song that brings another place and time to mind- trip down Memory Lane  *Random encouragement from a friend- whether its a note, a text, or a hand on my arm with a “How’s life?”  * The Bible verse a day app on my phone  *Riding along with the windows down  *A starry night  *Sitting in our livingroom and watching out the windows at snow swirling downward  *Parking equipment after a long hard day, and being so thankful for God’s provisions  * Fresh cookies  *A colorful sunset or sunrise

I could go on and on.. Maybe you have some to add too.. It’s good to look at the blessings.. Maybe that’s why it good to be awakened at night.. To stop and think over all the amazing things in my life.. God is so good.. “And then I don’t feel so bad..” Thanks Detroit and Rolo.. And they smile, and go back to their afternoon siesta.. After all, there’s work to be done come nightfall.. 🙂

Blessings on your week,

Kendra

Bonus pic:

It was cold this week.. Mother, Emily, and Julia got to enjoy some quality time on the ice..

This week marked the date for me to sign the dotted line and take possesion of a bit of land in Fort Defiance.. I’m so excited and thankful for God’s leading.. Pretty sure it may soon be added to my list of favorite things.. 🙂 Time will tell..