A break in the storm, time to travel!

-Clarence Holm

Engine left to idle, heater placed on high
Another blizzard warning, another storm foretold
Bag packed, added provisions, should north winds start to cry.
Highway’s calling – must be going, through weather uncontrolled.

A frigid winters’ sunrise, grips the frosty air,
Cold light spills past the vista, releasing sun dogs for a run.
A frozen landscape speaking, challenging wanderers with a dare
The sun is up, ignore the cold, – today’s work must be done.

Postscript to picture

by Jack Holm

“I froze my butt more than once when I was a little kid walking that path with dad when he walked back and forth from our house to milk cows at Grandpa Holm’s. The picture is taken from the east side of the home place facing Calnon’s where Vernon Grant now lives. The trees on the left are the stand of Chinese Elms and to the right is the tree claim across the road from our house.

This is likely from the late 40’s. I remember a bull dozer coming out to plow a path to the hay stacks in late winter. We hauled hay in the winter using a hay wagon on runners pulled by horses. My part was stomping down the hay so dad could get more on the wagon. In the spring, a wall of ice and manure had been formed from the barn to the pump house where the cows had walked single file from the barn for water compacting the path as the snow accumulated. Dad had quite a battle to keep the stock tank insulated and clear of snow so the cows could get water twice a day. We had a hand pulled sled mounted on skis to carry skim milk in five gallon buckets to the hogs that were almost a hundred yards from the barn. Of course, we had to walk up hill with the full buckets. Cherished memories and good motivation to go on to college.”