Snow and soup...

I dread winter. Night comes early, daylight is pale and the weather can be thoroughly unpleasant. Photographs of frozen streams in the snow are beautiful; here, the beauty of fresh snow lasts about ten minutes. Last week, temperatures dropped to the lowest they have been in years. Just to remind us a little more forcefully that winter can be nasty, it started snowing. Not a lot of snow, more of an icy dusting, but still... frigid temps and snow are not much fun for anyone but skiiers.

Then, redemption arrived in the form of our annual parish soup sale. What a perfect antidote to the weather! So many different and delicious varieties, all made by the women and men of the parish. Each one triggered memories of my mother's and grandmothers' kitchens and family gatherings of long ago. It was all but impossible to choose just a few; my freezer is now very well stocked for the remaining weeks of winter. I've been smiling every since.

Life is like that, isn't it? Sometimes it seems that every day is a little more difficult than our coping skills can handle. Then something lovely and unexpected happens and we know that a brighter tomorrow will come after all.

Today? More snow. For dinner tonight? More soup! I think this may just keep me going until the first crocuses appear :-)