For children of all ages. Some stories are written in spring and others in summer. And then there are those that come in autumn when the colorful leaves are bright and glowing in the trees. And yes, quite often, there are some that are inspired by the cold, snowy days of a Vermont winter. The days are short, but the nights are long and they keep you restless, walking about your house in pajamas. You peer outside your window, now and again, to see if it’s still snowing as hard as it was at dusk. Or maybe, you hear the wind howling while you stoke the coals and add another log to the fire since you’re up anyway. And so you curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of hot tea. With pen in hand and a notebook you begin to write a story by longhand. Quite unsure maybe of how long it will be, or what characters you’ll create along the way, you scribble the sentences quickly before they rush out of your head and you lose them forever. Matilda, is such a story that originated when the snow was deep and the winter at its peak. It was the beginning of a new year, 2010 in fact, and a new decade when I thought of the many cows trying to stay warm in their drafty barns. Tilly, a prize-winning black and white Holstein, who had a heart of gold and a blue ribbon award nailed on her wood stall, was born and became a lovable, unforgettable pet. I hope you enjoy her story.