Cold and Colderer

After an afternoon of freezing drizzle, the snow started pouring down late Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday morning this was the view off the back porch. Despite the sun it failed to rise above freezing. After a very mild winter, February had come in like a freezing hailstorm.

I knew the storm was coming so I prepared a fine winter repast— cioppino, the San Francisco treat— cod, prawns, scallops, oysters, and clams in a spicy tomato broth.

All was well, and we were warm an...