Page 343 - NEWNORMAL_ANIMATED

INTERMEZZO #5

grow in power, stature, and confidence. And
as a photographer, I took the job of documen-
ting the beautiful wonders of the season, par-
ticularly the many birds sheltering with us.

Cold Temps, Warm Hearts
As Valentines Day approached, the arctic
plunge roared down from Canada, through
the heartland of the USA, and deep into Texas.
The local weatherman predicted temperatures
we never really expect here – single digits, se-
riously? 5 degrees is that possible? Would our
peratures down to -10°F (-23°C). The first two region be prepared for this? Our home is quite
days of that stretch, we received steadily fa- modest, built in 1983 -- the heater really cannot
lling freezing rain, and the entire hill country, keep the house above 65° when the outside
indeed much of the vast state of Texas glazed temperature drops below freezing at night.
over in a crystal palace of ice. Disney could not So we were thinking, okay inside we will be at
have done a better job creating a CGI (compu- 60°F (15°C) so let’s build a fire in the furnace,
ter-generated imagery) world for Frozen than cook a hot meal, and be very happy to open
what we experienced. Bordeaux and Burgundy bottles for Valenti-
At first, we were visibly energized with the nes Weekend and our Anniversary and serve
change in weather, the beauty of nature, and them at a rare, perfect „Room temperature!”
the resiliency of the local animals coping with When the power surged twice on Valenti-
this new world. We set about our small home ne’s morning, we started to get the idea this
filling bird feeders, gathering wood, bundling was going to be a potentially challenging
up the cats, securing the vehicles, and walking event. And sure enough the power dropped
our two Akitas. Those dogs are amazing, as out on our entire rural region near midnight.
the winter storm grew in intensity, and tem- We heard a thump on the roof, as ice-laden
peratures plunged daily, the dogs seemed to branches crashed down. Then the quiet of
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