Winter it is.

What is with the weather?  My thermometer sat near -40C two nights ago.  Right now it is -11C and is supposed to rise to -5C overnight.  Wear the heavy jacket.  Wear the light weight jacket.  Put on the heavy duty winter boots.  Put on the light duty winter boots.  Everyday is a new adventure in how one should dress for the day.  

Whatever the temperature happens to be in the morning, tomorrow is going to be an outside day.  After being housebound for a couple days, I need fresh air.  To ski or to snowshoe is the question of the evening.  There's a lot of new fluffy snow on the ground that is just waiting to be played in.  I realized that my x-country skis have not found their way out of my garage this winter.

When I got home this afternoon, there was about four inches of snow on my driveway again.  I love winter and the snow but after looking at all the gardening magazines,  I have to confess that I did wonder how long it was going to take to melt the mountainous snowbanks in the backyard.  There's about two feet of snow where my raised garden beds are going to be.  I was dreaming of blooming hollyhocks last night and I realized that there is a five foot high pile of snow where the seeds will be planted.  My field of dandelions is home to a sledding ramp at the moment.

Winter?  Summer?  Winter?  Summer?  What do I want?  I'm so confused.  I guess I should take advantage of the remaining days of winter because in a few short months I will be complaining about the heat which I absolutely cannot tolerate and the pesky mosquitoes that will want to suck my blood.  You will find me outside early on a summer morning or in the evening but during the remainder of the day I hibernate inside.  The summer heat and I do not get along.  The mosquitoes and I are not friends.

 I do love the colors of summer; the brilliant greens in the forest and the bright pinks, purples and yellows in the flower beds.  The freshness of a rainy day and the smell of wet pine needles are right up there on my list of likes as well.  So is sitting on my deck to watch the hummingbirds flit from flower to flower. 


That all sounds great but I think I just solved my confusion.  I am more active in the winter.  I spend more time outside during the winter months.  I can make myself more comfortable with layers of clothing.  Winter is still at the top of the list for favorite season of the year so the gardening magazines will be put on the shelf while I enjoy the remaining weeks of winter.