By Julie Reardon

Remote lessons/learning weren’t a thing for many of us growing up, and snow days were keenly appreciated. They still are, and fortunately most don’t include any remote studying. Cancellation of classes for snow is cause for play, whether you live in town or in a rural area. In fact, we laughed at a recent TV poll that was over 80 percent against remote lessons on snow days. I suppose those in support of remote lessons on snow days were childless churls.

We rarely get stuck here since Doug has a big 4-wheel drive tractor with a bucket and grader and makes a little money digging people out of their longish farm driveways. Livestock needs to be checked, plenty of hay provided and stock tanks inspected to make sure the floating de-icer is functioning. Fencing needs to be checked so that any fallen trees creating escape routes can be fixed or rigged up to stay put until better weather. The only good thing about those escape routes is that the escapees can be tracked by their hoof prints.

Now AI can come to the rescue estimating the probability of snow days. You can visit websites or even buy apps for snow day predictions from artificial intelligence. Next, we ‘ll be getting robo-calls to buy them. Luckily you can ignore some or all of the predictions and wait for the news to call it. Unless you’re somewhere where the only white on the ground is sugar white sand with turquoise waves lapping at it. If that’s the case, do your friends a favor and don’t brag.

We know February is the month of love, but weather wise, it’s a bust more often than something to love. We can’t wait to get out of the house as it draws to an end.

It might not feel like spring yet, with no signs other than a lonely crocus or two straggling up through the snow. But there’s no surer harbinger than the Point-to- Point season, which opens February 28th. For true horse lovers, those suffering from cabin fever, and those looking for a country outing, there’s nothing like the first few race meets here in the hunt country. These early season races tend to be smaller, more informal affairs but there’s no shortage of equine talent as the country’s top steeplechasers as well as hot young prospects make their debut racing over fences after a winter layoff.

The Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point opens the season on the 28^th with their meet at The Hill in Boston, Virginia. With millions in total purses, meets in 12 states, and millions of spectators, steeplechasing is big business. Some of the best horses and horsemen thoroughbred racing has to offer race over fences, and it all starts here in Virginia this month.

For a full schedule of this year’s races, check out http://www.virginiahorseracing.com.