We understood our biggest challenge after moving from Florida to the Blue Ridge Mountains would be adjusting to the cold. It really hasn’t been that bad. We survived our first big snowfall in December without any major difficulty.

It was kinda fun actually, except for the shoveling. Bitter cold set in after that and we spent a lot more time indoors than we are used to.

It’s been great for my writing. It’s quiet and peaceful here, with few distractions. My biggest chore has been keeping the fire going.

As winter draws to an end here in late February, the most persistent downer has been non-stop rain. This area had record rainfall in 2018, and the new year has been just as wet so far. It’s gray, it’s cloudy, it’s foggy – and we’re ready for spring. We’ve haven’t seen more than a fleeting glimpse of sunshine in over a month. It’s always gloomy.

If it’s not fog, it’s clouds. We live amongst the clouds these days.

Don’t get me wrong, we love our little cabin. It’s cozy and comfortable so being indoors is not a punishment. We’ve made it our home and we’re quite happy with it. We could just use a little sunshine right about now.

I’ll raise one glass to our friends in Florida, and another to all the white-skinned, gloomy folks of the High Country. Spring is right around the corner! (and we don’t have hurricanes).