Chapter 9Hard on the heels of a mediocre crop, the winter of ‘83–‘84 came roaring up. Matthew and I always saved a host of indoor tasks such as mending clothing and repairing leather gear for the winter months. Sensing the length and severity of the winter, we went easy on our store of firewood and other fuels, preferring an extra layer of wool across our backs to throwing a spare log on the fire. We also nursed our supply of peat to keep a modicum of heat in the outhouse for our animals’ wellbeing.
Early in the cold season is a time for lovemaking and rediscovering things about one another. Later, the winter is for f*****g and then trying to stay out of one another’s way. I wondered if this was how other couples lived. While truly and deeply in love, before the season ended, we were fill
