It’s cold, and an ice storm has covered the roads with ice. There is hard rain, with snow coming and more ice and rain through much of tomorrow. We love nights like this when the dogs and animals are safe and dry, and we are in our cozy old farmhouse with burning wood stove fires, books, food,  British mysteries, and music.

On the way, we stopped at the local grocery store for some vegetables. I love taking these night photos when there are lights. They are truly iconic.

Maria and I have come to love storm nights. I get nervous sometimes, but she never does. But nights like these are exceptional.

We stopped to get some wine on the way.

We decided to rush out to the Shift Wagon for our salad bowls – I got the Mexican Bowl with rice, black beans, Mexican Street Corn, fresh jalapeno, tomato, and avocado, and Maria got the Falafel bowl with hummus, romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, pickles w/Lemon.

At the last minute, I ordered a pizza for tomorrow in case we’re snowed in for much of the day. I ordered the Dawson’s Creek with pesto, spinach, artichoke hearts, tomato, kalamata olives, and ricotta cheese. This will get us happily through a storm.

Sarah knows our car by now and has the food ready in cartons, bags, and boxes. Corey is always serious, working in the back near the stove.

We said hello, picked up the food, and headed home as the salt plows began growling up the road, yellow lights flashing. I love taking the Monochrome out on nights like this; the light and shadows are eerie and exotic.

 

Sarah and Corey are quiet and busy, as always.

We talked a bit about the weather and got out of the cold and rain.

When we got home, we ate the salad bowls. They were delicious (The Shift wagon is a godsend for us). We talked for a bit and had a glass of wine.

I did the dishes.

We’ll watch the Caffe Lina TV stream for a bit; there is a much-loved bluegrass band on their streaming channel. Then we’ll read. Last night, when Maria went to sleep, I snuck outside with the wood card and filled it up for today and tomorrow so Maria wouldn’t have to go out.

After the music, we’ll read for a bit; we love the books we read. Then we will seek out one of our favorite British mysteries – we are both addicts – and watch on my Iphone 13. We still have no phone. It is so lovely to be inside for the night. I can’t help but think of the people in California and other parts of the country fighting off mudslides, blizzards, and tornadoes.

We feel lucky.

The storm was blowing cold, wet, and nasty when we pulled into the driveway. I had to be super careful walking on the ice. Still, the storm managed to be beautiful with the help of our fallen white birch limb, which my cameras love.

I feel so lucky tonight. I have riches beyond my wildest dreams. Today, I did some good and got 400 dollars worth of new, blue oval tablecloths for the Mansion and Memory Care. I asked for help from the Army Of Good to get them all, and I am getting some (you can donate via Paypal, [email protected] or Venmo, Jon-Katz@Jon-Katz-13 or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205 State Route 22, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I’m almost there, and thanks. Small donations are just as welcome as big ones; they add up)