Day 5: Winter
I missed posting this weekend because weekends are time spent hurriedly getting chores done while the baby sleeps and/or hiding the laptop from the baby. I tried to write something several times, but alas.
As I write this, it's warm in the house for once and rain is pattering loudly against the rainspout outside. It's been raining since midday yesterday and it's not supposed to stop for another day. Most of the snow is gone. The forecast calls for 40s and 30s for the foreseeable future.
I'm less than excited.
I thought last year was a fluke, but this year only confirms it: I kinda like winter. It's dark, yes, and cold, yes, and full of ice and snow - but I kinda like the snow and the cold. And the long nights are so bright when the ground is covered in snow.
I'm lucky to work from home, which means I can leave the house and chase the fleeting sunlight whenever I want (provided there's no meeting). My office has a south-facing window, so it's frequently the warmest (and brightest) part of the house. Plus there's a gorgeous park nearby and in the winter, it's nigh deserted.
I love to run in the cold. At first, 20 degrees was intimidating. Then it dropped below 10 and I forced myself on a run and I realized - this is a hella lot more pleasant than running in the heat. No copious amounts of sweat or bugs and after the first few minutes, you're warm enough.
I love love love running while it's snowing. It's so blissfully quiet and beautiful and gorgeous and it's like running in another world. And unlike running in the rain, I don't get drenched.
I love the way the snow glitters in the sunlight, how it blows across open fields and clumps on trees. I love the sharp bite of the cold air on my face and the puffs of cloud that form when I breathe. I love the way the stars look on a very cold & clear night.
I love how a light rain on a layer of snow creates a fog that hugs the ground. It's creepy and awesome.
But what makes me realize I really do love winter is looking ahead to spring and just kinda... cringing. It's going to be muddy. And it's going to rain. And it's going to be sticky. And then the bugs will start coming out.
Blrgh. Bugs. I hate bugs. Specifically the mosquitoes that come out in April. They're the worst.
I'll miss winter. I won't miss the icy patches or the dark, but I'll miss the bite and the chill and the snow.
There are good things about spring. Going outside without twenty layers. Bulbs. Fresh growth. Starting a garden. I'll embrace it in time. But now, listening to the rain and knowing how sodden the ground is, I'm going to mourn winter.
As I write this, it's warm in the house for once and rain is pattering loudly against the rainspout outside. It's been raining since midday yesterday and it's not supposed to stop for another day. Most of the snow is gone. The forecast calls for 40s and 30s for the foreseeable future.
I'm less than excited.
I thought last year was a fluke, but this year only confirms it: I kinda like winter. It's dark, yes, and cold, yes, and full of ice and snow - but I kinda like the snow and the cold. And the long nights are so bright when the ground is covered in snow.
I'm lucky to work from home, which means I can leave the house and chase the fleeting sunlight whenever I want (provided there's no meeting). My office has a south-facing window, so it's frequently the warmest (and brightest) part of the house. Plus there's a gorgeous park nearby and in the winter, it's nigh deserted.
I love to run in the cold. At first, 20 degrees was intimidating. Then it dropped below 10 and I forced myself on a run and I realized - this is a hella lot more pleasant than running in the heat. No copious amounts of sweat or bugs and after the first few minutes, you're warm enough.
I love love love running while it's snowing. It's so blissfully quiet and beautiful and gorgeous and it's like running in another world. And unlike running in the rain, I don't get drenched.
I love the way the snow glitters in the sunlight, how it blows across open fields and clumps on trees. I love the sharp bite of the cold air on my face and the puffs of cloud that form when I breathe. I love the way the stars look on a very cold & clear night.
I love how a light rain on a layer of snow creates a fog that hugs the ground. It's creepy and awesome.
But what makes me realize I really do love winter is looking ahead to spring and just kinda... cringing. It's going to be muddy. And it's going to rain. And it's going to be sticky. And then the bugs will start coming out.
Blrgh. Bugs. I hate bugs. Specifically the mosquitoes that come out in April. They're the worst.
I'll miss winter. I won't miss the icy patches or the dark, but I'll miss the bite and the chill and the snow.
There are good things about spring. Going outside without twenty layers. Bulbs. Fresh growth. Starting a garden. I'll embrace it in time. But now, listening to the rain and knowing how sodden the ground is, I'm going to mourn winter.