WINTER MORNING AT THE CABIN

WINTER MORNING AT THE CABIN 12/12/2015

You could tell by the twinkle in his eye that he was enjoying doing what he was doing. The old wood burner was consuming oak by the box full and the cabin was as warm as toast on this cool morning in December. The smoke curled from the chimney and floated softly down onto the deck as high pressure promised a pleasant winter day at the cabin. That old Monarch wood stove had been doing his job for over thirty years, and as long as somebody would continue to stuff logs into him, he would exude warmth.

A small flock of mallard ducks puddled in the lake, enjoying what could well be the near end of the open water, the lake having been ice covered only a few weeks before. Old Man Winter is lurking just around the corner, and when he chooses to make another entry is anybody's guess, including the duck's.

Of course, when the Old Man does return, the ducks would simply update their Visa's and take off for a warmer climate, an option not available to all. The ducks, however, do not have the option of sitting in the cabin and absorbing the warmth of the old Monarch wood burner. Perhaps, the better option of the two is a tossup.