THESE BUCOLIC SCENES guide a weary traveler down the narrow lanes to the old cabin-in-the-woods. Also known as the Caretakers’ Cabin for the Chuch O The Pines. It is the scene of some Consternation and Commotion over the last few days, as the furnace went out on Friday night—outside temp about minus 5. But with space heaters, a kitchen oven and two warm kitties, we made it through the weekend, with a new furnace installed yesterday. The little buggers are expensive!

Then last night at 2am one of the treetops laden for two weeks with heavy snow, decided it could stand it no more, and fell to the cabin roof directly over my bed—a remarkably loud crash when one is sleeping soundly. But the roof with its stout old beams was strong and eventually—a rather long eventually—sleep returned. Kitten Koda was concerned but easily reassured. And tomorrow the Careraker will climb up on the roof with chainsaw, clean the mess and assess the damage—hopefully none with the cushion of rooftop snow.

Life is interesting, in a woodland cabin as much as anywhere else. But we have many blessings to keep things in balance and no plans to remove healthy trees that have been here much longer than we, and are among the best-loved reasons for living here. We do hope the furnace lasts a good long while, though.