The Return of the Dark and Dreary Northwest Winter

All day yesterday, I watched heavy rains and sideways hail track up the valley. It's a blessing to have such a good vantage when it comes to gnarly weather. Still, a fast moving storm can catch us off guard. Take for example yesterday afternoon's deluge of hail. It hit as we were bringing the horses in and the big Palomino Pinto/Paint, Gin, had refused to walk forward, instead swinging his rear into the stinging pellets of ice. It took a firm reprimand and all my strength to coax Gin forward and into the barn. On balance, it was an incredibly cold, soggy, miserable day, a day that both marked and ushered in the return of the dark and dreary Northwest winter.

Pumpkin helps me watch a storm track up the valley.