all good things

What could be better than a hot bowl of chili with cornbread after a nasty cold morning horseback riding? Fun was had by all despite the temps, and the temp was quickly overcome by the chili.
The rest of the day was spent lazily with family, old friends, and another fleeting spectacular sunset. All day yesterday was cloudy with spitting snow, then at dusk, the sky cleared and the full moon and stars shown from a crystal sky. All day today was cloudy so that the sunset had something on which to project its colors. Here is a pic of tonight's sky painting as seen from my parent's back yard.
Then at dark, the sky cleared once again to show the gorgeous moon and stars. We spent the evening by the fire in my brother's new log home.
Like waning moons and evening sky paintings, family visits must come to an end. Just as we stand there watching the sky darken and colors fade, hoping to wade in pastels a moment longer, so we linger into the final night, visiting, telling stories, remembering and laughing as the last logs' flames shrink to a glow the color of the sunset in the darkening fireplace.