Today we had our first major snowfall. When I woke this morning everything was white and pristine. There is something about a new snowfall that makes the world, for a brief moment anyway, a clean and perfect place.

I spent the first hour of my day shoveling the walk and driveway. Then a 2 hour indulgence of my favorite winter activity, cross-country skiing. Chopped up 20 good size pieces of wood and lit a fire in the livingroom fireplace and settled down for a relaxing day with a good book. (Decided to reread an old favorite, Daniel Martin by John Fowles.)

I know eventually that the novelty of this new snowfall will wear off and the drudgery of a long, cold winter will begin to take it's toll, but for now, for today, it was an uplifting and spiritually rejuvenating experience.