It seems we can't catch a break this winter as every time the temperatures climb and the sun comes out, it's followed by harsh winds, freezing cold and even more snow. Enough already!

One of the few good things about this rough weather is that it's given me ample time to read, usually curled up in front of the fireplace, which sure has gotten a workout recently. A few weeks ago, a wicked wind raced through the area, and thus I found myself with a lot of twigs and small branches for kindling all over the front lawn. As I went out to gather them, a friend joked that I was a real pioneer woman!

I cheated last week when making a fire. Instead of trudging out to the woodpile to carry in logs, I bought a case of those insta-light logs from the supermarket. Sadly they did not have my favorite style, which have the color crystals built right in, enabling me to play techno-pyro at the flick of a match. Instead, I lit the pressure-treated log and then tossed some crystals on top as the flames started to rage to make them colorful. Then, to ensure I was not completely cheating in my firemaking technique, I hauled in some of the twigs that had littered the front lawn from the blowing winds so I would not have to totally abandon my pioneer spirit. Somehow the flick of a match on a Friday night (I never have time for a fire during the week) is my version of turning on the weekend.