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We're expecting another foot of snow starting tomorrow night.  Winter unofficially started here in southern Wisconsin on December 1.  When I sent the chocolate lab out the door to take care of business after that first blizzard started to dwindle, the snow was up to his elbows on the front walk.  The plow guy has been through here three different times in a week, I think it's going to be a VERY good year for him!!

I finally bought my own "roof rake" just a few days ago, remembering the ice dams that built up with sheets of cascading icicles over my kitchen window last year.  Never had them before in 25 years out here, but last winter was the first time I'd used the fireplace on a regular basis to warm the house, and the warm air circulating in the attic caused the melt.  You learn lots of things the hard way!

Got a fire going right now since mid-morning, with nearly a winter's worth of cut firewood in the garage and a bunch more to split one day when it gets a bit warmer out.  I love the smell of woodsmoke, and the white-hot glowing embers, and the yellow flames shooting off the smaller maple branches when you pile them in.  And often...but not always...the thing that makes me smile the most is the sound of the furnace NOT running for a while! 

There's something so wonderfully primal and comforting about a fire, whether it's indoors or out.  But to read me running on about the joys of an outdoor fire, turn to "Home Fires Burning" and enjoy the season!