Embracing Winter

There are two kinds of people in the world. Ones that fly south for the winter and ones that break out their best pair of long Johns and stick around to hold down the fort!

Lucky for all the animals here on the farm I own a few pairs of long johns and I get a little giddy when it starts to snow!

As much as I love tending the garden in the warm months, I’m truly a cold weather gal! I live for cozy winter nights around the fire, big comfy sweaters, and all the comfort food in the form of soups and freshly baked carbs!!!

While others are packing for a tropical destination cruise line, I’m switching my Pandora app to the Winter Lodge station, and doing my best snow dance!

As a steward of the land I recognize the need for each season not only for the land and animals, but also for myself.

Naturally, I’m a busy body who likes to stay moving and working. In the spring and summer I often push my body to the max with all the added garden and farm chores. Winter forces me to slow down a bit and gives my body a break. After all, there’s only so many rows one girl can hoe before she breaks! (Insert inappropriate joke here)

Once the temps drop so low and the snow starts to fly, my list of back breaking chores gets cut in half and I’m left with more time to reflect on seasons passed and plan for the future. That reminds me of a quote I came across the other day…

“Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January with the dream.”- Josephine Nuese.

Even if you don’t plan on starting a garden this spring, take time on a snowy day to dream a dream!

When the world is quiet, be still and listen. Without all the background noise our senses are heightened. You can hear yourself think for once…The crunch of the snow below my feet, the sight of the cows breath in the field, the chill of the metal gate on my hands, it all grounds me.Winter provides us the time to unwind, decompress, and recharge IF we let it.

I crave the cold and I long for the stillness that comes along with frigid temperatures. I’ll stay outside taking in the view until I can’t feel my toes any longer!

There’s just so much distraction in our lives everyone needs time to disconnect from the noise and reconnect to oneself. I understand that can be a scary thought for some people. If your not comfortable being alone with your own thoughts, your likely to fill your life with clutter and distraction.

There’s little room for personal growth though when we constantly distract ourselves from our own feelings.

“There is a privacy about it in which no other season gives you…in spring, summer, and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.”-Ruth Stout

Do yourself a favor this winter…Instead of flying off to the tropics, maybe give the cold a chance and see what magic it can work on you! Who knows, maybe your truly a winter loving gal like myself! And if your not, there’s a quote for that too…

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips it’s turn”.- Hal Borland