There's a sort of tightening that happens in the winter. That's not the right word, but I'm at a loss for a better description. The earth closes up; puddles remain for longer after a rain and the rate of water loss has slowed significantly from the duck pond. Plants fall into a stasis. Everything that was going to die in the frosts is gone, but what is left doesn't grow so much as persist. The hens require more coaxing to lay their eggs, and the farmer requires significantly more coaxing to get out of bed!
All of which is to say that not much has visibly happened over the past week. Lots of sleep, lots of long term planning, and lots of watching, wondering and ruminating.
So much is poised to explode with growth come spring, but at the moment we are holed up and waiting.
