Winter at times can be beautiful. Fresh snow on the ground covering the trees and streets. It's quiet and peaceful. Give that snow fall a day or two and the ugly happens.
The snow becomes black with car gunk. The trees are splotchy at best. Overall it's rather unattractive. When you look at a photographers work do you ever see a snow scene with muddy snow? It's usually late February early March that I am done with winter. This winter we have had more snow than we've seen in a long time. I was holed up for almost a week because of delays and cancellations due to weather. The first day or two was fun, but after that it stopped being fun.
I love when winter first breaks. The first time you step outside and realize you need the heavy jacket. I enjoy the bundling up and multiple layers of clothing. More than anything it's the change that I crave and love. It is certain that I could never live in an area that doesn't see each of the four seasons equally. I get tired of my routines and every few months I feel the need to change it up.
I used to drive my mom crazy in high school because every few months I would rearrange my bedroom furniture. Why? Because I needed the change.
I don't rearrange rooms anymore. I find it too difficult in this house. But I do still feel the need for change from time to time. The changing of seasons offers that change for me. Each season brings its own activity. Though I have to say the winter is the hardest to get through. It's all indoors all the time. I do find crafting enjoyable but with this whole house selling thing I have put them on hold. I don't like to have to take things out and get set up and then clear the space before I am done. Especially because I have to start and stop working so often throughout the day. So here I am in Winter and it's ugly outside. And I don't have much to do except clean (bleh). It's not fun anymore. It's not new.
I do love Lent because it begins in this dead space of winter and ends at the birth of spring. I love that spring is right beyond my reach. I look forward to that day where I ditch the big heavy coat for a sweatshirt. I can't wait until the hat/glove box begins to collect dust from disuse.
I have to say I love how slowly the seasons reveal themselves. One day you look outside and you notice that the snow is melted away. The next day you realize you only had two layers on rather than 3. Step by step spring starts to reveal itself. The first greens will pop from the ground. Garden centers will be overflowing with flats of bright colors. I can open windows and allow a fresh cool breeze into the house. My children will rediscover the fun they can have in our small backyard (God willing this spring we can celebrate in a new big backyard).
The only thing that saddens me about this pending spring is my inability to garden this year. It's about this time that I begin to plan and shop for my garden. Though my backyard is small I have learned to make use of every inch of space for the purpose of fruits and vegetables. Last year was a bad one for me and I only did well with my strawberries. I was hoping for redemption this year. However with the pending move I can't plan a big vegetable garden. The plan this year will be a few attractive flowers if we are still here. Low maintenance and pleasing to the eye.
Though I can't plan a lavish garden this year I can plan for an exciting spring. When you have four kids it's actually quite easy to do. They, like me, have been cooped up in this house for far too long. So when you catch a dry sunny day they are all too willing to get outside and enjoy all the spring has to offer. So I will embrace this Lent like any other. And as ugly and death-like the winter can be I know that life-giving spring is within reach.
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