January 2024 is almost over. 2024 is now like a new friend, can’t say old friend because we are not yet on nodding terms with 2024. But now, ask me which year it is, and I will say 2024 – this is a start. By March 2024 will be like an old friend. Making friendships takes time.

I don’t have any close friends right now. I wish, of course, that I had a horsey friend or two. I keep hoping to meet someone who doesn’t automatically say, “oh, I love Icelandics. They’re so cute! I’d love to

get one for my grandchildren.” Grr, grr, grr. I want someone to say, “Icelandics are smart, sound, sensible and bomber trail horses.” This, of course, is a more apt description.

It’s -1˚ F according to our optimistic thermometer, the one on our front porch, which I check in the mornings with my headlight before heading outside to tend to the animals. And it’s -5˚ F according to our pessimistic thermometer, the one on the tack shed that I check in the mornings after heading back to our cabin after tending to the animals.

The wind isn’t blowing – if it was, I’d leave here and head for someplace with better weather. But it is snowing. It’s been snowing all day. I had thought that we weren’t going to get any more snow because last year it snowed exclusively in December. “Ha ha,” Mother Nature is saying.

In the next few days, the temperature is supposed to drop to the low -20s.

Last night, Pete said, there was a small earthquake. He guessed correctly that it was in the two-point range. It turned out it was a 2.6. I, amazingly, slept through it. It must have been the fifteen minutes or so in which I was in a deep sleep.

Mother Nature has a really good head on her shoulders. She’s not at all vengeful, but she is telling us to listen up, that we need to get our act together and put the planet’s interest ahead of our own. This is what I like about children’s literature – most authors are aware of this, and are passing this message on to children. So, yes, the more books we can get into the hands of children, the better off this planet is going to be.

I don’t hold out much hope for adults, but perhaps the human race will evolve and surprise me.

It was quite beautiful today, looking out the windows and watching the fluffy flakes tumble out of the sky. Then walking around in the snow, it did not seem all that cold.

Mother Nature is giving me a break, I can’t find the horse poop right now. It will surface, it always does. I just have to enjoy the break.

We did go into town, so as to pick up a book donation. Small world, the woman donating the books is good friends with Angela who owns Title Wave. Hopefully she will pass the word on to her about our program, and maybe the two will do a road trip and come to Palmer.

Next: 29. 1/29/24: What gives?