I sit at my desk, the gentle summer breeze coming through the windows and the sounds of crickets sharing their night song. Winter seems but a dream away.

Winter Storm Ulmer came in March and Wesley made an appearance in April. I have never seen such tall drifts in my life! We weren’t able to get down the road due to the blockage from Ulmer. Marty was able to plow with the tractor to Okaton to feed our cows north of town; it took him several hours to go that short distance as he made a path through the thick layers of snow.

I hope I can accurately describe what was happening in the top and bottom photo: I’m facing the west as the sun was setting. In the top photo, it looks like fire as the snow drift reflects the descending light. The wind had picked up and was also blowing any loose snow, which you can see whiffs shooting up from the top of the drift. It was mesmerizing!

In April, Wesley didn’t bring in the wind to create huge drifts, but more snow accumulated to cover the barren prairie. I hiked to the top of Glorious Splendor* for the photo below, without my snowshoes, thinking it would not be all that deep. Never again will I leave them behind. It was the hardest hike up the 1/2 mile hill I’ve ever trudged through, but look at the view!

The Sandhill cranes soon followed and we were every so glad to hear their spring call!

*Glorious Splendor is what I’ve named the hill south of my ranch home. It’s one of the highest ridges around and the view from the top is at least 30 miles. It’s glorious!