Category: Life Experience

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Snow Days

If you live in a northern clime where winter snow is a regular occurrence, then you already know the special joy of snow days.

adult blur close up cold
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For those not familiar with this phenomenon, snow days are the storm cancellation days when schools, churches, and many businesses make the choice to close for the day.  For some, it’s an easy decision, such as schools closing to keep children out of harm’s way and school-related traffic off of roads.  For others, such as businesses, it’s often a money-losing decision but one that has to be made, like it or not, when the weather gets serious out there and driving becomes downright dangerous.

photo of girl beside a huge snowman
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Of course, what people consider serious weather isn’t always the same.  A snowstorm in Virginia, for instance, feels a lot more threatening than a storm in New Hampshire or Maine where people are used to dealing with heavy snowfall all winter.  But, even in these seasoned States, many storms lead to cancellations until people can safely dig out and get driving again.

car road snow winter

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It’s really just plain old common sense to stay put and hunker down until a snow storm passes but it’s something more, too; it’s a feeling of sweet liberation!   Snow days can bring us back to our childhoods when we listened for the “no school” whistle (yes, I’m that old!) or heard our town’s name announced over the radio; they can also bring that sense of relief and freedom from the responsibilities of the work-a-day world.  A snow day is that rarest of days when you can chart your own course, albeit usually within the confines of home!  Whatever that “snow day” feeling brings to us, I think we can all agree that it’s a fine thing to have an unexpected day off – no matter from what!

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Photo courtesy Tim Gouw – unsplash

I think this is particularly true in today’s fast-lane world.  We’ve become so accustomed to constantly rushing through our weeks that a “snow day” is a welcomed respite.  Since we don’t willingly give ourselves permission to take a day off for mental and physical health, it’s especially nice when that permission is given to us.  Even in retirement, I still find these days to be particularly relaxing and freeing as I take renewed pleasure in just being home and doing whatever I like.

arranged table with chairs and plates near window
Photo by Ben Maxwell on Pexels.com

Today, while the snow continues to softly fall outside, maybe I’ll prepare some comfort food or re-pot a plant; maybe I’ll just sip a soothing cup of tea and browse seed catalogs.  Whatever I do, I’ll be sure to enjoy this snow day as the precious gift it truly is!

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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The Pleasures of Homemade Bread

One of my favorite pastimes during the coldest months is baking homemade bread.  The heat of the oven warms the kitchen while the heavenly aroma warms my heart and brings back fond childhood memories.  For me, making and enjoying fresh-baked bread is one of life’s sweetest pleasures!

bread with sliced green vegetable and meat on white and blue plate
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I grew up in a bread-baking family and received some serious early training.  My Sicilian grandmother made bread almost every day to feed her large family.  It was a necessity, yes, but a task that I believe she enjoyed; plus, all that slapping and kneading of dough was a great way to alleviate the stress of caring for so many children!  My mother, too, baked her own bread in pretty much the same manner as her mother and grandmother did.  It was an art passed down through many generations!

baguette bake bakery baking
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The Sicilian-style bread I grew up with was a white bread that was lovingly kneaded until the dough felt soft as silk, then placed in a large bowl and coated with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.  Of course, the olive oil also added extra flavor!  After rising, the dough was formed into long loaves or, as my mother came to prefer, sandwich-sized rolls which were then generously topped with toasted sesame seeds before rising again and baking.

bread with toppings and gray and green olives in bowl
Photo by Ceyhun Özden on Pexels.com

One of our favorite ways to enjoy this fresh bread was to cut it while still piping hot from the oven, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese, whatever my mother had on hand.  The taste was heavenly and, served along with a green salad, made a quick and satisfying meal!

selective focus photo of cheese and grater on plate
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Being a busy retired gal, I like to keep my recipes simple while still trying to maintain a health-conscious diet.  One recipe I love to make is Whole Wheat Bran Bread, a hearty white and wheat flour bread that is light in texture yet satisfying plus it slices easily for sandwiches.  Here’s my own recipe which yields one loaf.

Begin by buttering a loaf pan and setting aside.  Pre-warm a large bowl and then add:

  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon dry yeast

Gently whisk above to mix well.  Cover bowl a with dish towel and place in a lukewarm (pre-warmed but turned off) oven to sit for approximately 10 minutes, then add:

  • 1/2 cup wheat bran
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups white flour, added gradually

After adding in the white flour and when the dough has lost its stickiness, turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for approximately five minutes, adding more white flour as needed.  You should have a smooth and non-sticky dough that forms a ball.  Place about a teaspoon of vegetable or olive oil in the bottom of the bowl, add the dough and swirl to coat it on all sides.  Cover with the dish towel and allow to rise in a lukewarm oven until doubled in bulk, about one hour.

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Dough ready to be punched down (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Punch the dough down in the center to release any air bubbles, then turn out again to knead for a few more seconds until smooth.  At this point, I like to sprinkle some bran on the work surface and “roll” the ball of dough in it until it’s covered.  Place in buttered loaf pan, cover with dish towel and let rise again in a warm place, for approximately 30 minutes.

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Dough after rising in Loaf Pan and Ready to Bake (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Once the dough has rounded and risen to just above the loaf pan, remove dish towel and bake in a preheated 325-degree oven.  NOTE:  I use an old-fashioned heavy ceramic loaf pan (pictured above) that requires a longer baking time of approximately one hour.  Your bread may only need about 45 minutes, depending on the type of loaf pan used, so monitor its progress.  It will be nicely browned when done.  Remove from loaf pan and place on a small rack to cool before slicing.  Enjoy!

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Freshly Baked Whole Wheat Bran Bread (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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Forever Green

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey,” from the classic California Dreamin’ song, seems such an apt description of winter here in New England.  Indeed, winters here can be so harsh that many of us feel the need to flee to warmer climes for some tropical respite!  But, all is not as bleak as one may think, because upon taking a closer look the landscape is filled with myriad exclamation points of green.

Pond View with Evergreens in Early January (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

The color green symbolizes life.  It’s the first color we notice in spring as tiny green leaves begin to unfurl on trees and shrubs; it’s the color of early flower bulbs just poking through the warming soil of our gardens; it’s the color of lawns and fields turning verdant again.  Green is the color of renewal and rebirth and yet remains with us year round, even in the dead of winter.

January White Pine
Eastern White Pine (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

The old German song, Oh Tannenbaum, expresses our love of evergreens perfectly:

“Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer’s here,
But also when it’s cold and drear.
Such pleasure do you bring me!”

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The lacey flowers of Pieris patiently await spring (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

It always amazes me just how much green can be found in the cold and stillness of winter!  The most well-known of the evergreens here is the Eastern White Pine with its towering straight trunks and canopies of green branches that reach towards the sky.  They are so abundant that the fresh fragrance of pine permeates the air!  There are also hemlocks and spruce with their more familiar, Christmas-tree shapes.  Large rhododendron shrubs grow closer to our homes, their fattening buds just waiting for warmer weather.  On the coldest days, the leathery leaves curl up to protect the shrubs from moisture loss and serve as a visual warning that we need to bundle up before heading outdoors!

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Purple-bronze Azalea adds drama to the winter landscape  (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Smaller evergreen shrubs also dot the winter landscape.  Pieris already sports sprays of tiny flower buds in readiness for spring.  Mountain laurels remain a dark, shiny green along with spiky hollies.  Some azaleas keep their purple-bronze leaves, providing a bright spot of contrasting color.  At ground level, blue-green vinca shines along the edge of the road while velvety mosses abound on rocks and shaded paths.  Last but not least are the few tough perennials that remain green in our flower gardens – heucheras, lamb’s ears, iris, and ajuga.

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Soft Lamb’s Ears huddle in a blanket of oak leaves (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Where there is green, there is life!  And the color green is never more appreciated than in the dark months of winter when it reminds us that the promise of spring lies just around the corner!

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Velvety Moss brightens the forest floor (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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A New Year of Possibilities

One thing I’ve learned over the years is not to set myself up for disappointment; as in, forget the New Year’s resolutions!  Many of us make all sorts of plans in January which we resolve to carry out, but they are only plans, and plans are easily broken.  These days, I prefer to think in terms of possibilities or things that may happen.  That way, I’m under no pressure or obligation to make something happen; I’m just open to it, so that I’m pleasantly surprised when it does happen!  

fireworks display above trees
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We all make plans and lists to structure our lives, sometimes with a great sense of urgency to them.  I have to admit I’m a big fan of checklists to help me organize my days and weeks.  I love the gratification of checking things off once they are done but have also learned not to be held hostage by things left unchecked.  A good example of this is my humble grocery list which I add to on a daily basis, but once I’m at the store I may not purchase a certain item on that list.  Maybe my favorite brand isn’t available that day or I decide it’s something that can really wait until next time.  Whatever the case, it’s OK to leave something undone because eventually, when the time is right, I will make it happen and check it off the list even if it takes several weeks.  The satisfaction of checking something off my “to do” list may be delayed but it’s no less satisfying.  

orange and green pen on graphing notepad
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And that’s the key for me these days – to allow things to happen eventually in their own time.  By doing this, I free myself of the chains of resolutions and intentions.  It’s such a relief when I just let things be, like taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.  It’s a chance to observe what will come to pass without forcing it to happen, without all the urgency and drama.  By behaving in this way, I’m letting nature take its course.

adult air beautiful beauty
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While out walking on this bright and balmy first day of the new year, I saw many signs of winter life – velvety green mosses and ruffled lichen clinging to stones and stumps, fattening buds on azaleas and forsythias, hungry birds pecking at seeds and poking at bark for hidden insects.  All around us, nature continues its circle of life but does it so quietly, and almost secretly, that it appears as if nothing is happening.  On the contrary, there’s a whole lot happening all the time in tiny, slow and steady changes.  Life is constantly moving forward.

moss covered tree trunk surrounded by fallen leaves
Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

As we succumb to everyday pressures and rush through our days in an effort to get it all done, as we place all our focus on what should be, it’s not always easy to appreciate what is really happening in our lives.  We, too, are always moving forward but sometimes we need to sit back and just bask in the enjoyment of what we have today.  We need to take the time to appreciate those tiny miracles happening right now, rather than constantly seeking to fill our lives with something that’s newer, bigger and better!  While it’s exciting and healthy to make plans for the future and improve upon our current situations, it’s also beneficial for us to find contentment in the present, for the present is all we really have. 

brown wooden dock in middle of hay
Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

Once again, this January, we can make many demands on ourselves only to end up feeling frustrated when we can’t achieve them, or we can take a lesson from nature and practice patience with ourselves.  We can let the new year unfold before us, without any requirements, and be pleasantly surprised at all the possibilities.  

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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The Joy of Blogging

It’s hard to believe that my first full year of retirement is almost at an end and what a fulfilling year it’s been!  Back in July, on a whim, I started a personal blog with no prior experience and no real theme in mind.  Being an avid gardener for many years and one who loves to talk about all things plant-related, I figured that was a good place to start.  Besides, writing seemed like a great way to fill my newly freed-up days.  What I came to realize is that blogging freed me up as well, in ways I never anticipated.  The experience has been inspiring, motivating and energizing; it has truly changed my life in a positive way!

person using inspire typewriter
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Over the past six months of blogging, I’ve made many new friends; some are professionals, some are amateurs like myself, but all of them are enthusiastic about writing and eager to share their life experiences.  And I’ve discovered there’s a whole lot of stuff out there to write about – from accomplishing the most ordinary of everyday tasks all the way to seeking higher consciousness!

books stack old antique
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I’ve found that people who write also read, and they read a lot!  A lifelong lover of books myself, I now love reading blogs as well.  By reading different blogs, we open ourselves up to new worlds but also educate ourselves by taking the time to learn about and appreciate those topics that excite others to write.  There are so many people blogging regularly now and so many different things to read about that you never get bored.  Generally quick reads, blogs are endlessly entertaining, and there’s always something new on the horizon.

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Instructional blogs are a great way to learn something new as they generally don’t require a lot of time to read yet pack in a lot of information.  When photos are also used, it’s like a personal mini-class and just as enjoyable as watching a video.  I do a lot of this type of blogging when I talk about gardening and plants.  Although far from a professional, I have many years of experience and love to share what I’ve learned with others through the blogging medium.  I also regularly seek out the wisdom and wit of my favorite bloggers.

let your dream be bigger than your fears signage beside plate with fruits
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Many blogs are stories of real-life experiences that come from the heart and, as such, they can touch us in a very personal way.  They’re a communion between the writer and the reader.  With this type of writing, a catharsis takes place that can bare your soul and leave you feeling more than just a little vulnerable.  As part of the blogging community, we respond with encouraging and understanding comments; we hand out gold stars and cheer each other on in hopes that by doing so the good stuff will just keep coming – and it does!

brown star and red tree decoration
Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

And so, as 2018 comes to a close, I’d like to thank my faithful readers and fellow bloggers for enriching my days with inspiration and joy!  Thank You and a Happy New Year to All!

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

For more on blogging, visit my previous posts:

Redefining Ourselves in Retirement

Into the Blogosphere with Lyme

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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Bittersweet December

December is a month of great extremes – excitement and peace, joy and sorrow, beginnings and endings – all tied to our present and our past.

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Photo by Torsten Dettlaff on Pexels.com

December is a sacred month.  Christians observe the birth of their savior, Jesus.  Gentle Buddhists practice sharing gifts of peace and goodwill to others.  People of the Jewish faith celebrate Hanukkah with the Festival of Lights.  Hindus enjoy a holiday called Pancha Ganapati, an expression of the natural season of worship, with chanting and gift-giving.  No matter our faith, we are all united in observing this most spiritual of months.

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Photo courtesy of Grant Whitty on Unsplash

December is a time of feasting.  People all over the world enjoy preparing traditional foods with recipes that often go back many generations.  When we gather with family and friends and partake of these special foods, we are connected to everyone who has ever graced our lives.  It’s a ritual of love which we repeat again and again, year after year, savoring not only the classic flavors but the fond memories they evoke.

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Photo courtesy of Brooke Lark on Unsplash

December acknowledges our losses.  Of all the months of the year, now is the time we most acutely feel the loss of our loved ones.  It doesn’t matter how many years ago the loss happened or in what season it occurred; it doesn’t matter how old or young the person was or whether the death was sudden or lingering.  At some point this month most of us will relive precious moments spent with family and friends and mourn them all over again.

cemetery chair countryside empty
Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

December brings us full circle.  John Lennon expressed it perfectly, “Another year over, A new one just begun.”  It’s a time of gratitude for all the good things in our lives and a time to look forward in hope and faith.  Happy December, Everyone!

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Photo by Carl Attard on Pexels.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Counting My Blessings

I remember when I used to count the days until Christmas – Now, I count my blessings!

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The day after Thanksgiving is considered by many to be the official start of the Christmas season but, for me, it’s a time of reflection and a time to be grateful for all that is good in life.  And my mantra these days is “cherish the simple things” as I seek and find blessings in everyday circumstances.

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Photo by photos_by_ginny on Pexels.com

Beyond the crowded malls and frenzied shopping, far away from the hustle and bustle of the season, there is peace and simple beauty all around us, if we only choose to see it.  The stillness of a December dawn, the flash of a red cardinal through evergreen boughs, the sparkle of frost on fallen leaves – all so simple and common in their occurrence that they are easily overlooked and, yet, so stunningly beautiful that they can stop us in our tracks.

red cardinal bird on tree branch
Photo by Harvey Reed on Pexels.com

And what is more precious than the warm embrace that greets us as we open the door to loved ones, the prayer of thanks murmured as we gather around the table for dinner, the laughter we share together.  These are my blessings, the most prized of all gifts!

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Wishing the wonderful people in my life, and my dear readers, all the simple blessings life has to offer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Craving Cozy

As I write this blog, it’s dark, raw and rainy outside, typical of this time of year.  Inside the house, I try to ignore the gloom surrounding me, focusing instead on what’s good about the season; and there is so much good to think on, when I take the time to look a little deeper.

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A Glimmer of Light (Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)

Over the weekend, I put up some solar twinkle lights on my garden trellis.  This was such an easy task and yet it cheered me with the prospect of gazing out my kitchen window at night and seeing this simple structure light up the darkness.  I was giving my garden a special adornment, a sparkling cloak in honor of the floral beauty it brought me this past season.  Adding this glimmer of light to the outside was also a nod to the coming of winter, to moving inside and basking in the warm comforts of home.

autumn autumn leaf autumn leaves chocolate
A Cozy Cup (Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Pexels.com)

Leaving work on a particularly miserable day, a friend once said to me, “I just want to go home and get cozy.” Cozy sure sounded good to me, too!  But, what exactly is cozy?  Is it a state of mind, of comfort, of warmth?  Is it that glimmer of light in the darkness?  It’s all of these things and yet different for each one of us; cozy is personal.

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A Cozy Cat (Photo courtesy Kate Stone Matheson – Unsplash)

Coming inside, living indoors, is the natural consequence of cold, long winters; but how we choose to live in our homes during these dark months is what makes it bearable and, dare I say it, pleasurable.

adult beverage breakfast celebration
A Cozy Room (Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)

Cozy is my constant survival mode for winter.  Keeping the house comfortably warm, adding blankets, pillows and throws to sitting areas and lighting a wood fire all contribute to the perfect ambiance.  Flannel sheets, shirts, and nightgowns embrace me with softness.  Steaming mugs of tea, coffee and cocoa become my preferred beverages.  Even everyday cooking creates comforting warmth with its tantalizing aromas of freshly baked bread and slow-cooked soups and stews.

red knitted textile and three black pine cones
A Cozy Gift (Photo by Alena Koval on Pexels.com)

Preparing our homes for the holidays only ramps up the coziness factor.  We can create scenes of indoor beauty with just white candles and fragrant greenery or add more magic with the sparkle of tree lights, presents, and ornaments.  From simple to ornate, it’s all pleasing to our senses and only adds to the pleasure of being home.  The key to living well all winter is to keep this warm and comforting aura going long after the Christmas tree has been taken down.

By enhancing our pleasure in being indoors, home becomes the place where we most want to be  –  a place that’s inviting, beautiful, warm, and cozy.

 

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Yoga for Life

At some point in high school, I bought a small “pocket” book about Yoga poses and started practicing them at home.  It was the late 1960’s and Yoga was just becoming popular in our hip culture.  I liked the challenge of learning how to do the poses and my young body easily bent and stretched as I followed the instructions on the series of poses that made up the “Sun Salutation.”  There was no such thing as a Yoga studio at that time in my small hometown and no place to go where I could learn more.  Besides, I had neither a car nor money for classes and had to content myself with practicing alone at home.  For the next several years, I did just that.

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Photo courtesy of Simon Rae

In 1973, after graduating from college, I began working at a local medical center doing transcription.  A co-worker there asked if I would like to join her and a friend who had just rented a small storefront as a place to meet and practice Yoga.  I was thrilled to finally have an opportunity to learn more about it and practice with others, so I quickly agreed.  The dedicated young woman who was to become my first teacher was really just learning herself but she was totally devoted to all things Yoga and instilled a love of practice in me that would continue for life.  We met weekly in that tiny rental and then in her home, creating more space, and all the time more young women were joining us.  Yoga was becoming mainstream!

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Photo courtesy of Jacob Postuma

After about five years, my teacher went on to take advanced teacher training and become accredited.  For a while I considered this, too, taking some of these classes myself which were held in a large studio near Boston.  With one mat right up close to the next, the classes were always jam-packed with people who had committed themselves to regular practice.  It was my first experience with the mega business Yoga was becoming and I was excited to be a part of it.

beautiful exercise female girl
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

During this time I married and my new husband and I bought a home.  It wasn’t long before I became pregnant with my first child and my Yoga practice took a back seat as I adjusted to my new life as a homemaker, wife, and soon-to-be mother.  Even during this busy time, I continued to meet with my Yoga friends and practiced throughout my pregnancy.  Yoga had become a huge part of my life and I saw it only continuing into the future.

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Photo by Diego Madrigal on Pexels.com

For nearly 50 years and through all of life’s ups and downs, I’ve continued to practice Yoga.  There have been times when I’ve had to stop because of health issues but I’ve always come back, again and again.  For me, coming back to Yoga is like coming home.  There’s something so comforting and stabilizing in the practice, something that nothing else in life provides.  And I don’t think I can adequately describe what it’s like because Yoga has to be experienced to be understood, and the experience is in the practice.

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Photo courtesy of rawpixel

These days my practice is very different from the vigorous Hatha flow sequences of my youth.  I’m fortunate to have a studio near my home where safety and well-being are encouraged and supported by a knowledgeable and dedicated staff.  Because my body has changed with age and physical limitations, I’ve had to make changes in the way I practice, but I find this softer version to be even deeper and more rewarding.  And it only reinforces my belief that Yoga can be practiced at any time and at any age.  My teacher recently posted this quote which expresses it beautifully:

“When we realize that what we are advancing toward is not some physical form but an inward recognition of the truth of who we are, then we will not feel ourselves to be failing if we cannot attain difficult postures. “Advanced” practice is any movement that brings us closer to this recognition of our true self. .” ~ Donna Farhi

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I hope I have inspired some of you to try Yoga or maybe get back to regular practice, and I’d love to hear about your experiences as well.  Namaste.

For more on the remarkable studio where I practice, click on this link: https://abtyoga.com/

DISCLOSURE:  From time to time I may use Affiliate Links such as the one below.  I use these only for companies I trust.  When you click through on the link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission (at no additional cost to you) which helps me to maintain my website. Thank You!

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Sun Worship

Just as the leaves fall and the days grow shorter, we humans experience our own yearly changes.  The end of Daylight Savings Time in early November signifies, for many of us, the beginning of winter.  Here, in the Northeastern United States, darkness starts to creep in around 4 pm.  We plan our days around what time it will be dark, reminding ourselves to leave outside lights on when running afternoon errands.  Cloudy and rainy days are particularly gloomy and dismal.  Even on the brightest days, the sun stays low in the sky, barely rising before beginning its early descent.  It’s the time of year when we are most keenly aware of our own inner clocks.

green grass beside sea
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Many of us are profoundly affected by the external changes in light.  Our brains send out signals to help us reset our biologic clock to this new cycle.  The Germans call these cues Zeitgebers which means “time-givers,” daylight being the most significant.  There’s a lot of science behind this but for me, it boils down to one thing – I simply crave the lost sunlight.

abstract beach bright clouds
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Here’s where I have to admit that I’m a sun worshipper.  I’ve always loved the sun and every summer of my childhood was spent at the beach.  After a day of frolicking in the sand and surf, I felt positively energized by all the sunlight I had soaked up and sun worship became a lifelong religion.

art beach beautiful clouds
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

During the spring and summer months, I spend a lot of my time outside, tending my vegetable and flower gardens.  I take daily walks around the neighborhood, soaking up all that life-giving sunlight and feeling nourished by it.  But it’s the late fall and early winter months that are the real challenge for me, dark November and December being the worst.  I mourn the loss of my gardens and must satisfy my sun cravings with getting outside as much as possible.  Aside from living in front of a sun lamp, it’s the best I can do.

selective focus photo of white clustered flowers
Photo by Alissa Nabiullina on Pexels.com

This winter, I will sip hot tea in front of a cozy fire while my beloved gardens are sleeping under the snow.  On the days that are not too frigid or wet, I will brave the outdoors seeking what little sunlight I can find.  It’s always a long haul until spring but by late January the days are noticeably longer and the sun becomes stronger with the promise of fair days ahead.  Now, if only I could hibernate until April!

fire wood firewood fireplace
Photo by Alex Lázaro on Pexels.com

DISCLOSURE:  From time to time I may use Affiliate Links such as the ones below.  I use these only for companies I trust.  When you click through on the link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission (at no additional cost to you) which helps me to maintain my website.  Thank You!