Snow Envy

Yesterday when I awoke, I was hit with the realization that Late Fall had arrived.  The lawn had been drenched during the night, there was a rich, dewiness to everything.  The colors were more vibrant--or maybe more stark--I can't quite decide.  The leaves from the neighbors trees had cartwheeled across the lawn...  Finally relaxing into restful poses against anything upright.  Their rich, seasonal colors of gold and flame a contrast against the drab concrete and the mellow green of the grass.

And then I looked toward my former home...  The neighborhood upon the hilltop.  They had snow.  The first snow.  The best snow...  The earliest snow of each season is special.  It usually arrives stealthfully in the night.  The morning making its entrance with a surprising glistening on each surface outside our windows.  The first snow is usually early enough that the dazzling, autumnal colors of the trees seep through the translucent dusting to create a watercolor of muted tones.

I have to say, I'm not wishing for winter, not yet.  I have no desire for the hassles of bundling up in coats, mittens, hats, and scarves...  But still, there is nothing like that first dusting of early snow...  I can't wait for my first white morning surprise.  And I think it might be coming soon!

End of Summer

Well, we knew it was coming to an end...  Summer is officially fading, and in the evenings it's becoming even more apparent that Fall is on its way.  There is a new bite to the evening breeze that has been absent for the past few months.

A few days ago I noticed the orange tinge on the Japanese maples.  The golden flutter is gaining purchase on the aspens in my yard...  The evenings are cool and pleasant...

I guess the truest indicator that we're at the end of Summer is that school starts tomorrow.  The backpacks have been purchased.  School clothes are ready to be hung in the closets.  New shoes.  Freshly sharpened pencils.  The smell of Crayola and Elmer's.

Summer has been really wonderful this year.  Days on the boat.  Vacations at Lake Powell.  Seven Peaks, Trafalga, the local park...  Snoasis, BBQs, homemade ice cream.  It's been one of the best Summers I can recall.  But the truth remains, I love Fall.  And I can't wait for it to bloom in all its glory! 

Reality v. Wistful Thinking

What it looks like outside my window...

What I wish it looked like outside my window...

I guess it'll come sooner or later...
Sooner...  I hope...

It's a snowblower kind of day!

 

Eight inches and still falling.  Spring is nowhere to be found!

A Rainy Day

It was a little drizzly yesterday with intermittent bursts of sunshine. Lots of heavy clouds passing through, but just a little moisture. Isn't it amazing to see what a little rain can do in a high desert? Just look at these flowers flourishing in my yard!


I'm not even sure what these flowers are... A week ago I was growing straggly looking bushy things...

These pretty blooms just seemed to burst from the leggy stems of my mystery plants over night...

The blossoms were an unexpected surprise... A pleasant surprise... I will be waiting (expectantly) for them to return next summer.

And btw--these shot are all SOOC. I'm getting better! lol

Definitely Not Winter--But What?

HRH is moping around the house, listening to the thunder.

This is soooo not Summer!

The clouds are hanging heavy, but they have yet to drop their watery cargo. The hillside is green and beautiful with new growth... But the mountain tops are white with a fresh dusting.

I have to agree with The Princess... Somehow it just doesn't seem like summer.

So, this is summer?

I know I've discussed my seasonal confusion before, but apparently I'm still suffering from it. Is this summer? Or is this spring? Do we decide based upon calendar, temperature, length of daylight? I'm leaning toward it being spring... But I don't base that on anything logical. So, I guess I'm open to suggestions about appropriate terminology.

My kids are equally confused. JJ is still insisting on wearing long sleeves for fear of getting cold (with shorts, of course). I can't convince him that it's unlikely given the 88* forecast. Of course, the snow forecast for the mountains this weekend doesn't really promote confidence in the warming weather, does it?

But Max is a little more confident of sunshine and cloudless days. He started things off with a splash when he fell in the lake yesterday. (Don't worry grandma! The Mister rescued him promptly and was wearing a life vest!). He was dumped out of the tube... He can't wait to have another go at it!

Zeke just asked me (for the umpteenth time) if he has school tomorrow. I responded (for the umpteenth time) that he won't go back to school until after the summer vacation... A vacation that will include swim lessons, tumbling, music lessons, trips to the cabin, picnics, afternoons at the park, and the inevitable trip to the ER for stitches (best case) and/or x-rays and plaster (worst case)... As a side note--remind me why this is called summer vacation... It doesn't sound exactly vacation-y to me...

Anyway! Regardless of whether this is spring or summer, it's starting out well. The weather really is beautiful. The flowers along the roadside are cheerful and friendly. The crickets were chirping up a chorus last night... And, maybe best of all, we picked up the Volvo yesterday, and today I enjoyed cruising with the sunroof open. It is in much improved condition, aside from a misaligned headlamp which still needs readjusting.

We've been giving the grill a workout, and I bought marshmallows yesterday. I can almost taste the S'mores! Spring--Summer--doesn't matter. I'm loving it!

Glorious Spring!

Despite my great love affair with winter, I'm actually looking forward to spring this year. Last year I was out of town when spring actually sprung! When I left, my neighborhood was enrobed in drab browns and grays. Upon my return, I was greeted by trees, topped by an ebullient green haze. And slender blades of grass, just poking through the newly thawed ground. It was glorious!

The past few days have been such a welcome reminder of the restorative powers of spring. The sunshine warms as it heals the wounds of winter. The wind blown trees are standing a little straighter. Even the weeds look appealing as they cheerfully spread across the barren ground.

The thick blanket of winter conceals. It softens shapes, soothes harsh angles, hides the spent. And as winter progresses, there is something desirable in that. But with spring, there is truly a magical sense of renewal. Spring always emerges with an unrestrained sense of exuberance. Those soft, rounded shapes of winter are suddenly thrust into the spotlight and pulled into clear focus. I restlessly await the blossoms on the plum and pear trees. I yearn for the upheaval of spring bulbs, bursting from the ground with their cheerful yellows blooms. I long for breezes, full of the fragrance of new growth.

Spring is coming, I can feel it in the air--and I can hardly wait! Welcome Spring!

Now Accepting TP Donations

No, we are not in the grips of a bout with diarrhea (that was last week). The TP is requested for battling those pesky, and all-too-premature, Christmas Holiday decorators. You know who you are (don't you Sue?).

I know, I know... I'm a little obsessive about acceptable Christmas decorating protocol. As previously mentioned, I just can't help but feel off kilter when the December holidays encroach upon my Turkey Day. While I love Christmas as much as the next person, I want to enjoy my turkey amongst the glorious colors of the fall harvest.

My vision of fall loveliness is hindered by the boughs of pine swagged across the front porch of the house across the street. Flashing lights and singing Santas somehow detract from that feeling of gratitude for all we are blessed to enjoy. So please, I'm begging you, unplug the lights. Put away the inflatable reindeer. Enough with the carols and snow machines. And about the elf named Fruitcake.... really, he never needs to be seen again.

PS. Sue's house looks really lovely. Really! But I refuse to enjoy it until after the Thanksgiving dishes are done! And no, she is not responsible for the inflatables.

Fall or Winter?

It snowed on my pumpkin.

I think that's a little like "it rained on my parade."

Do you remember that post (just 2 days ago) when I hoped that we would get some time to enjoy Fall? I wanted to enjoy the cozy fireplace and bake yummy treats. Do you remember that??? I wanted to listen to the wind as it swept the leaves away... I wanted to enjoy the shapes of the gnarled and balding tree branches... I hadn't had time to do any of those things yet because it was still 70* outside.

It snowed today. Technically it wasn't the first snow, but the first snow blew in on the day we left on our cruise, so we didn't actually experience it. Anyway, does that mean that I missed Fall? Is it Winter now??? If the snow all melts and goes away, does that mean it's Fall again? Or does it irrevocably become Winter at first snowfall? And if so, has it been Winter since the first snow? Was I living in denial already??? hmmm.

I guess we could always throw the calendar into this little discussion. But I think it is certainly Winter, with or without a calendar, once there is substantial snow on the ground--no matter what month it is! Really, could you say "Happy Autumn" while toting the snow shovel out to the driveway again for the second workout of the day??? Ok, I do realize that nobody says that, but you get the idea!

Well, I guess it's fortunate that I like Winter, too. But if it really is Winter, I am so sorry I missed Fall. I'm not sure I want to jump from short sleeved shirts to parkas. Oh, for just a little sweater weather. I guess there's always next year.

The Arrival of Fall

I won't pretend that I'm disappointed that the warm weather is on the way out. Fall has always been my favorite season. I love it when the temperature starts to drop--that crisp feeling in the air. . . . I love the apples that come into season--that sweet tartness that begs for caramel. I love the way the colors fade from vibrant green to flames of orange, red, and yellow. . . .

It snowed in the mountains last night. I awoke to see the clouds drifting along the canyons and filling the valleys. All at once, the clouds broke apart just enough to expose the majestic, snow capped peaks of the mountains beyond the foothills.

This photo was taken this morning from my back deck--can you believe the scenery that I enjoy on a daily basis? I am so lucky!