Greeting to God’s Frozen People everywhere from Frostbite Falls (aka Grafton Vermont, see the pictures of the bandshell here and the house where I am staying taken two summer’s ago) where it is a toasty 1 F on the thermometer with windchill down to -16F.

Grafton is a beautiful little town (3,000 or so depending on the season) nestled in the Green Mountains, home to a wonderful Inn and a great cheese factory where you can get the best Vermont sharp cheddar anywhere. I am safely ensconced here looking at about two feet of snow with prospects of more. It’s just me, 2 labs (one named—- wait for it, Ben, and honest I had nothing to do with the naming of the dog which belongs to the Dumas family) and Clio the cat. Through the gracious hospitality of our friends the Dumas’ I am taking a chunk of my sabbatical up country in dear ole New England finishing up the second volume of The Indelible Image. Cabin fever is a real possibility here in light of the weather, but hey, I have my books, my computer, and some occasional TV and email. Life is good. Yesterday I dressed up like Nanuck of the North got in the big pickup truck and drove to Walpole N.H. to do the grocery shopping, with guidance and help from Blaine the handyman around here. He’s a native son who seems to know everyone around these parts, and is undaunted by the weather. Color me daunted, since I have a bit of a cold just now.

From time to time I will be posting some entries about my time here and my reflections. For now I will just tell you— think of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the first time you hear about Narnia. Well, its that wintry here, and very beautiful in a cold, pristine, clean, austere, silent sanctuary kind of way. Saw some wild turkey’s, partridges, a hawk the other day. We also have Bullwinkle the moose who shows up in the backyard from time to time setting the two dogs off like a five alarm fire bell. Stay tuned…. and stay warm.

BW3