Views from the Winter Porch

It’s winter here and today it’s REALLY winter. The wind is howling, snow is blowing and it’s cold. This winter is one of the toughest we have had yet, though I am sitting in a nice, warm home in my shirtsleeves as I type this. I can’t help but reflect on my ancestors out in this weather with nothing but wool clothing and a drafty cabin to keep them warm. A fire is only good for so much heat and in those days a lot went up the flue. No wonder the harvest had to be good, they would have died without it (and they did).

I have camped in this type of weather in Colorado and remember that almost all of our time was spent gathering fuel for the fire, preparing meals, cleaning up after meals and then sleeping. There was some time for fun, but only 10% or so. That was with Goretex, down insulated sleeping bags and high tech tents. I was never really wet that time and enjoyed battling the elements and winning. Another time, it was more difficult. A word of advice, if you are in the snow, don’t just wear jeans. If you wear jeans, don’t get them wet. If you get them wet, DON’T take them off and leave them outside your sleeping bag at night. I cannot describe to you the exquisite pain of putting on frozen, rough jeans in the morning. Suffice it to say that it is one of the few times in my life I have screamed in pain. Lesson well learned......

Mom just got back from the Temple and as she walked out of the warm building and into this weather she thought, “Wow, this is like going from the Celestial Kingdom to the Telestial!” ‘Nuf said...