Went out to check on the horses — later than planned because of a phone call from a dear friend in Ithaca, NY — late enough that night was quiet and the moon was up. Clouds had cleared and the air was sparkling. Temperature was dropping toward zero — that’s around -18 for centigrade friends — which makes the experience crystalline beautiful. Refrozen snow that had gotten soggy just a few days ago made all steps crunchy. And there’s something about being out late in cold weather that makes one conscious of the fragility of life, consequently appreciative.