Winter

Every winter is the winter of my content. I love winter. I love everything about winter.

I know, most hate it, but I love it. From the snow, to the coats, to the gloves, boots, ear muffs, scarves, knee socks, and fireplaces. From flannel sheets and heated mattress pads, I love winter. I have often said that I used to have a coat in my closet, but now I have a closet for my coats. And it's true. I have every weight and length of jacket and coat made. I have different thicknesses of gloves and scarves, I have boots for snow and boots for rain, and then, of course, there are the color choices. Black and brown, and oh gray. I need all three. I love having a wardrobe that encompasses all 4 seasons. And with winter being our longest season, running from November to April—well, I have lots of winter clothing. I love winter.

Winter has its own sounds—the rumble of the snow plows in the early morning hours. The sound of snow when it's so heavy that it falls off the trees onto the ground below with a muffled thud. And the sound of nothing. I can sit outside on a winter morning all wrapped up in an afghan and listen, and hear nothing. Wait—I hear children laughing and yelling out to each other, they're probably a few blocks away, but because it's winter their voices carry—all the way to my house. I love winter.

I love sitting in my big brown leather chair by the fireplace and looking out the window. Sometimes the ice on the trees will begin to melt in the sun and it looks like little crystals. And sometimes the little chickadees are out jumping from branch to branch in our bushes. They are my favorite bird. I love winter.

We live on a river. Once in a while it will freeze over and I've watched the mallard ducks try to cross on the ice. I've watched the squirrels hop really high from snow bank to snow bank. And I've watched the snow falling softly blanketing the branches of our trees. I love winter.

One of my secret favorite things to do in the winter is this—if the sun lands just right in my family room, there will be a long angled runway, just wide enough for me to lay on. If no one is home, I'll lay on the strip of sunlight like a cat in the warmth and daydream, or catnap. I love winter.

I am content.