I remain quite fond of these north country winters, harsh though they may be. Snowshoeing a quiet forest at dusk under a waxing moon, shoveling the driveway (ok – when the snow is light and the accumulation under 6 inches), feeling the solar gain on an early February day, or just the simple way the season turns you inward – its gifts are manifold. Perhaps the best though, are in the heat and dancing light of a good fire in a wood stove, (complete with a cast iron pot full of water to humidify the air) – these have carried me through many a winter.