My thoughts about the coming of winter.

I was walking with a friend in the woods the other day and he casually said, “Autumn is such a sad season, everything is coming to an end.” I thought about this for a moment. Is it really sad? What exactly is ending?

After a moment or two of thinking and walking in silence I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t sad at all. It was a time to slow down after the rush and chaos of summer harvest and food preservation. I enjoy the the explosive change of color in the leaves, their eventual soft fall to the ground and then seeing the deep blue sky through the branches.

I am a winter baby, for me the darkening days and cold winds are exciting it means that hibernation season is coming. It’s a time where I can slow down my constant busy bee work and catch up on knitting and reading and all the other indoor activities, which usually get pushed under the couch and stacked on the bookcase to collect dust for six months of the year.

The coming of winter is one of my favorite times to be outside. I love the feel of cold air on my face and the rush you get when you breathe in and fill your lungs with it. It’s incredible how we as warm blooded creatures can produce our own heat to stave off the cold simply by moving. Go for a late fall or winter hike. You’ll start layered up, but soon be down to just a t-shirt.

Autumn is like giant sigh of relief and emptying of stress. I welcome it every year. How about you?

PS. There are only three bars left of the “Autumn Afternoon” clove and nutmeg soap. Get yours before they are gone!