Minus 12 F.

Got suited up, thank you Carhartt, Muck boots and my fabulous friends who knit socks, hats and face warmers for me. Kimmie Cornerstone, Lynn Rettberg, Libby Llop, Gretchen Hoag and Henya Kazatchkov all kept me warm this morning with their incredibly talented fingers. I feel their vibes as I push open the frozen door and plow through the snow with the doggies. The sun had not yet peaked over the ridge and - is it Jupiter? - is glowing bright in the northeastern sky. We had our way through the snow to the other side of the barn where a thermometer hangs - minus 12. I'm not surprised. The coldest it's been here in the last five years was minus 20. The locals tell me I came at a good time when there has been a warming trend and milder winters! After the doggies made their pees and poos and said hello to the happy, quacking ducks (how in the world do they keep their pretty feet from freezing?) we went back around the barn to get in the apartment door avoiding the sleeping sheep. Lock up the dogs and tiptoe in to listen for baby sounds. All quiet. I don't know why I thought they would start up just because I was home for three day weekend. I had some lambs bouncing around for a month or so this time last year, but I had Wooster, a mature ram, in with them. Kimmie Cornerstone is really going to have her hands full when she comes to farm sit for Mia's wedding. I know she'll be fine with Darryl and the kids to help her. Too much on deck today to do it all but I'll put a dent in it. I'm sorting through a couple of mountains of clothes in my bedroom. Some are so worn they went in the garbage, others are put away for summer, a couple of new/old outfits are hung up for school next week. Ran up to Joann's yesterday to get the pattern I need for Mia's bridesmaids capelets, only to find it sold out. Bummer. I ordered it from McCall's online, making me wonder why I didn't think of that before. Anne Fisher is coming up with fantastic ideas for centerpieces and pew decorations, including a boxwood/grapevine wreath and cranberry hurricane candle holders for the rehearsal dinner. I want to get collapsible black umbrellas for the bridal party in case it rains or snows during the "procession" to the Hyatt, a block away from the church. Won't that be a fabulous classy scene, all those orchid chiffon dresses with black velvet capelettes, escorted by the men in their grey tuxedos. Mia will have a full length, velvet cape with ruffled hood. We're hoping to get some photos on the square between the church and reception. That's where I took Mia and AJ to see Santa as babies. Time marches on...