I have been spending a lot of time on the phone with my younger brother and sister lately; we all think it somewhat strange that none of us is married, and I am the only one who has a "special friend" even.  After we have talked, I end up spending several days recollecting my childhood, and it has been very enlightening.  My sister is in a self-help class through her church, and she describes her experiences to me, and the lessons then pass on to my own life experiences.  

Last night, I had such a weird dream, and I know now that dreams, too, are part of the jigsaw puzzle that is our life on earth.  We spend at least a third of our time asleep, so it's only natural that our dreams have great significance.  They are part of our reality. 

I see this morning that another dusting of snow has been added to the snow we already have.  Each bough and twig and trunk has an additional coating of snow, and the muffled silence is impressive.  I can't see even to the neighbor's house, nor to the road, and I have to bend down to get through the branches to the birdfeeder, etc.  This feels so protective and "interior" to me; the sky is pewter gray and it is supposed to snow a lot more over the coming days. 

This is a good time for introspection and to draw comfort from my surroundings.  I have been blessed with complete joy lately and have been getting a lot of housework done, taking many things to Good Will and throwing out stuff that just needs to be gone.  And I've gotten a pair of boots for my special friend for his Christmas present.  They came yesterday via UPS and fit him well.  I've also gotten a Primus stove, a little one that fits in the palm of your hand, mostly.  Now I'll have to buy a can of fuel for it and see if I can manage to get it lit and cook something outside.