The Beauty of Winter

It's finally that time of year where the snow is now sticking to the ground, and it is honestly lovely.  Heh, except for when traveling on I-15 and there's a sudden slowdown and the electronic signs indicate that there's a crash 4 miles ahead...

Snow is so peaceful.  So tranquil.  The way it dampens sound, washing out the world in quiet reverence.  Crunching freshly packed snow on the pavement is so satisfactory and wonderful.  And wondering if you can get away with not shoveling it, wondering in fear that it might turn into black ice if you don't...

As a child it was always great fun to go into the mountains and sprawl on the ground making snow angels, or rounding snowballs into giant snowmen for jolly effect.  Somehow the cold wetness of snow doesn't exist in my childhood memories.

The symbolism of Winter is so enlightening.  The Earth decaying into hibernation, trees losing their leaves, flowers shriveling up into brown stumps all for the wonderful reveal of Spring.  We must die a little to grow stronger.  We must lose a little to be thankful and not take anything for granted.  Without Winter I wouldn't realize how splendid it is to have Spring flowers.

On another note I just looked at the weekly weather report and it looks like we're not getting a White Christmas this year.  I'm seriously overjoyed.  Actually, I really am.  Not joking!  Though it has happened, several times in the past, that the weather report indicated bright sunshine dancing around Dec. 25th, and then we'd get a surprise snow storm Christmas Eve.  It's happened more than a few times, so I should take bets with my family if we really will have a White Christmas and then plan accordingly.

I truly have a love/hate relationship with this time of year.  :P

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'" ~ Lewis Carroll

I'm going to go get warm,

Sarah

The Last Rose of Summer & The Brilliant Bright Moon

I picked this rose from the yard on the last day of Summer.  The fragrance sweet.  Store bought roses never smell nice, which is a shame.  "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  At least nature roses still smell nice.

The next day after picking this rose Utah nature took a crazy turn.  Rain, wind, and cold, the weather so crazy there was almost a tornado in Utah Valley when a funnel cloud appeared early morning, only to dissipate thanks to the valley mountains.  And between then and now the weather has been back and forth, taking turns between above and below normal temperatures.

This last weekend was heavenly.  The moon was brilliant, more beautiful then I've seen in a long time, passing through clouds, bright and clear.  I'm not the type to stare romantically at the moon, I prefer a night full of stars, but this last weekend the moon almost won me over.  The temperature that night as I stared at the moon was perfect.  Mid-seventies with low humidity, a slight breeze, the wind-chimes dancing in song.  I stayed outside long enough to enjoy natures thrill until the moon was finally engulfed.

The nice thing about living in north Utah during the Autumn is that we get to enjoy this season for quite awhile until snow hits.  Or maybe its lasted so long this year because I took advantage of the changing leaves when they first started to turn up in the mountains.  Every week since the beginning of September I've taken a trip into the mountains to take in the fresh, crisp air and admire the beauty of the trees.  They're captivating.  Now the trees in the valley have started turning.

This is my favorite time of year.

I'm going to enjoy each nice day we get.

I hope Winter minds its business and delays its welcome.

The Inspirational Narnia Deception?

(I found this on Facebook, so I don't know who authored this image)

I have awesome Facebook friends.  They're always sharing inspirational quotes with glorious images.  So my FB homepage is a mix of uplifting whatnot's, silly one liners, and depressing news stories.

But this image my friend Alison shared got me thinking.

 "The Greatest Part of Life is Simply Enjoying It"  . . . even if it's snowing.  That's what this inspirational image is Really trying to say.  Enjoy life, despite the snow, through the "Snow Storms Of Life," etc.  Because, as I've gotten older, I've learned to despise cold white fluff.  Cold, wet, white fluff.

So. Cold.

Or is this Narnia??!!

(See the Lamp post?)

 

Enjoy life and you just might find yourself in Narnia?

I like this message.