This season's pattern of snowy, cold, snowy, cold, snowy, followed by yet more cold has become tedious. While we've been without "snowy" since Sunday, things tonight once again take a turn toward "cold". A few consecutive days of temps in the mid twenties has felt like a break. Cocoa and Charlotte have been enjoying mornings in the sun on the south side of the barn, while the youngsters have ventured to the stone wall at the pasture's edge for the first time in weeks. The sheep aren't the only ones out for a look around this week. The deer have traced tidy meandering tracks as they loop their way through the fields, looking for forage. An apple tree just outside my front door is one of their favorite haunts.

It's been weeks since I've felt much like cruising around out of doors, beyond the necessary rounds of sheep chores twice daily. I took advantage of this week's relative heat wave to catch up on work in the barn and to break up the icy rind at the edge of the studio steps – and also to appreciate winter's kinder side.

Mishka accompanies me to the barn on good days, though I have to shut the gate to keep her from chasing sheep. At home she has her very own lamb.

I'm pleased to report that Gypsy continues to improve. She and Butch are both getting restless. I'll turn them back out for r&r once we get beyond the oncoming cold snap.