Tag Archives: winter

Cooper’s Hawk Spices Our Day

Posted on February 1, 2023 by John

While our children and grandchildren live in warmer climates, and live lives that are filled with many adventures, life here on Heatherhope Farm, in the frigid winter months, can get quite boring–even more so now that, for the first time … Continue reading →

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Yes It’s Cold, Windy, and Slippery…But

Posted on January 12, 2022 by John

Daughter lives in Florida, where it’s right now in the 70s. Son lives in California where it’s just about 60. We live in northern Illinois where it bounces between a wind chill of minus 20 and just above freezing. Why … Continue reading →

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Enough snow and wind!

Posted on February 6, 2021 by John

Zac and Betty looked like ghosts. Temperature about 5 degrees, going down to 15 below later this week. Wind from 25 to 45 miles an hour. Drifts up to my waist. Lots of profanity as I try to open gates, … Continue reading →

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Winter Pounces

Posted on December 12, 2016 by John

Advent is perfectly placed in the liturgical and meteorological calendar. It provides a natural faith lesson. Jesus says, “Stay awake! Be ready!” This was a winter arrival to test readiness. The sheep were grazing on lush grass right up to … Continue reading →

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Robins Suddenly

Posted on March 17, 2015 by John

             It was like a seasonal switch was thrown on March 6 of this year. After the second coldest February on record for Chicago, and (I believe) the coldest for our nearest airport in DeKalb, we recorded our final below-zero … Continue reading →

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First Lambs of ’14

Posted on April 9, 2014 by John

Yesterday, up at 5:30 a.m. Other days I would toss and turn myself back to sleep and get up at  7:30, but this day we were a week past what the calendar said was the start of lambing, so there … Continue reading →

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Surviving Winter

Posted on March 13, 2014 by John

            This morning, March 12, 2014,  we awoke to a one-inch covering of snow and a temperature of about 25 degrees. The wind chill probably brought it down to about zero.             Not bad. We pray it may be one of … Continue reading →

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Weather Calls for Glass-Half-Full Thinking

Posted on March 10, 2013 by John

    They say some people are “glass half full” people and others are “glass half empty.” I’m more inclined to think as Martin Luther of old who said we are all simultaneously saints and sinners. I know I have the … Continue reading →

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We Believe in the Sun Even During Long Nights

Posted on December 11, 2010 by John

It is that time of year when the darkness seems about to swallow the light. But, no! We believe in the power of the Light. The Darkness will not overcome it. In ancient times, in their caves, and later in … Continue reading →

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