The Cold

I used to hate winter. I used to complain from November to March. 

The last few autumns, I have worked diligently on appreciating the transition to colder weather. The last three while years living in town I walked the neighborhood collecting fallen nuts and leaves and photographing vibrantly colored trees. I trained myself to see the good in cold. Now that we're back in the country, I'm especially glad I learned to appreciate the balance the seasons represent. Interestingly, my career choice places me firmly opposite the dormancy of the flora and most fauna, with an extremely busy winter and a summer vacation. Fortunately, the first ice of this winter fell on a weekend so I was able to emerse  myself in the frosty paradise outside, while a fire crackled in the wood stove welcoming us back in.