Embracing Winter: A Week in Snow and Stillness
In January, we experienced the biggest snowstorm our area has seen since we moved here. We got at least 6–8 inches of snow, and some of our friends got more than a foot! Almost everyone was snowed in for about a week. Part of that was due to our area’s limited road-clearing infrastructure, and part was an ice storm that followed the snowfall, leaving the roads slick and nearly impassable for days.
Still, many of us embraced it—the quiet beauty of fresh snow, warm fires crackling inside, mugs of hot chocolate in hand, and a blustery winter wonderland just beyond the windows. A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few snapshots from our snowy adventure.
We call this our “Pilot Mountain Money Shot” because there’s a perfect view of Pilot Mountain. However, on foggy or snowy days, you can’t even see it!
View from the pond up to the house and orchard
Lavender Fields and Lower Pasture
View of the Garden and Lavender Field
View of the pond and non-existent (in this photo) Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain and the pond
Apple & Peach Orchard
Ephraim had icicles on his beard! We had a delightful time walking around in the thick snow and breathing in the crisp, winter air.
Sunny Winter Snow Days
Sunny lower pasture and pond covered in snow 
Pilot Mountain 
Chicken run and upper hillside 
The Cottage with shining rays
One of the days was bright and beautifully sunny—the type of winter light that makes the snow sparkle like a field of diamonds.
The Narnia Trail
Ephraim went on a walk in the woods nearby and had a grand adventure as if he were in Narnia.
In the end, it was one of those weeks that felt both slowing and sacred. The world was hushed under a blanket of white, our usual rhythms were paused, we drank many cups of tea, and I was reminded how little we truly control. I also saw how much beauty can be found in simply receiving what’s given. The snow will melt, the roads will clear, and life will press on as it always does. But for a little while, we were wrapped in stillness, warmth, and wonder—and I’m grateful we got to savor it.
“If we approach nature with reverence, we shall find that it reveals to us the Creator.”
— St. Basil the Great
