Winter in Virginia is so beautiful I had to stop before writing this to take some photos of the stark branches — lean and tall, or gnarled and sprawled — with bright light striping their West sides and deep sienna shadows on their East sides. They cast long shadows across pale wintergreen grass and the Short Hills mountains rise beyond them, solid and silent.

I sit on a summer white porch rocker, and without winter coat, hat or gloves, because the crisp air has been all but irresistable to me today. I walked outside at 7:00 and at 8:00 and wanted more. At 9:00 I had to have more and took walk for an hour. I have work to do, but at 3:30, here I am again. The light, the air, the dried and waiting hydrangea, sedum and mums, clematis and lilac — they are old friends, and I keep watch with them. It will be hard to leave them to go back inside.

And yet. I am exceedingly grateful for the warmth of a secure house, the blessed weight of a quilt on my body as I lay down to sleep. Electricity to heat the air and our food. The warmth of family smiles and hugs.

There's a brightness and glory indoors then, too. And, not to worry when there are shadows. Remember the beauty of the deep sienna bark of the trees, and know that both brightness and shadow combine to make the natural, beautiful and blessed place in which we dwell. The devotion of our forefathers and -mothers stand like strong and silent mountains, a backdrop and foundation of our lives.