‘All seasons are beautiful for the person who
carries happiness within.’ - Horace Friess
He was early. A
visitor who appears regularly whether invited or not. A visitor I hope comes late and leaves
early. A visitor who’s stay is as
welcome as a tax auditor, yet not quite as dreaded as the neighborhood
skunk. Yes, old man winter has arrived.
Winter is my least favorite season.
I found a quote this week that made me stop and think about
my relationship with old man winter.
“To be
interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be
hopelessly in love with spring.’ - George Santayana
I have been hopelessly in love with spring, as well as
summer, and have fallen out of love with old man winter some time ago. I find him cold and somewhat harsh. But George (whoever he is) has a point. Being grumpy all winter because it isn’t
spring, or summer, is silly. I need to
find the good qualities of winter and celebrate those, be grateful for each
season as it comes. The seasons will
change every year whether I like it or not.
If I find beauty and gratitude in each winter day it may just help me…
dare I say… fall back in love with old man winter.
I have decided I will not complain about winter this year
(my husband is laughing so hard he just fell off his chair while reading this). I am challenging myself to find at least one
thing each day to be grateful for about winter.
I will post my findings every Friday through winter (minus a few days
because of holidays).
I would love it if you joined me and told me why you are
grateful for winter in the comment section below. No need to think of seven items (unless you
have seven you would like to share), just one will do. Together
we can be happy about winter. If you are
already happy about winter, maybe your enthusiasm can rub off on those of us who aren't feeling love for old man winter.
My Winter
Gratitude List #1
I am grateful for:
#1 Not having to mow
the grass.
#2 The way the snow
glistens when the sun hits it just right, it looks like someone sprinkled
glitter everywhere.
#3 Wearing my
favorite sweaters.
#4 The sound of snow
crunching under my feet.
#5 Sitting by a warm fire
inside or out.
#6 How the snow
reflects the sunlight bringing more light into the house.
#7 How beautiful the
trees look when the wet snow is clinging to their branches.
Maybe it won’t be as hard as I think…
Today I am joining Kim Klassen’s Friday Finds. All my images
today were taken with my iphone. My leaf
image was textured with Kim’s texture benjamin. This week I found winter beauty in my
backyard and 7 reasons to be grateful for winter.
Why are you grateful for winter?
Thank you for stopping by!!
Have a great weekend!!
Stay warm and grateful!!
Michelle
So wrong to have Winter this early but Mother Nature at her best for sure. I always look at the changing of the seasons as new wonderful opportunities for image making. Lovely images Michelle as always and have a wonderful warm weekend.
ReplyDeleteStunning photos, Michelle. For someone who's not a fan of Old Man Winter you've certainly managed to make him look glamorous. I'm not a big fan of winter either and I agree with your not having to mow the lawn point. I also enjoy winter as a great time for eating barley soups - back home in Ireland we like to put barley in soups and stews to thicken them and add a bit of substance. It's my ultimate comfort food, and I've got a big pot of roasted pumpkin soup plopping away on the stove for when my son comes home from school later, which is making me enjoy being cosy indoors on a cold, grey London day. Stay warm and all the best for a lovely weekend, Bonny
ReplyDeleteGreat post Michelle. There's no use grumbling about winter. Here is my happy winter though for today. I'm so grateful that the Buffalo storm missed us. We are only seventy five miles south of where it hit the worst.
ReplyDeleteWhat a charming glistening winter-wonderland! :)
ReplyDeleteIt’s just so magical when autumn and winter meet, as you proof with your gorgeous leaf image.
I do love the sound of snow crunching under my feet too.
Stay cozy and warm, and enjoy the weekend.
This is a nice look at winter and why so many people don't care for it. I love your list of what you do like...I'm a long time fan of winter...I grew up in snow country. Sub zero cold though is not on my list though...but I love warm sweaters, hot chocolate, snow crunching under my feet, and the special winter light. I hope it is a short one this year, however, after such a long one last year. Have a lovely Thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos , I live in North Carolina so we don't usually get too much snow, but when we do the neighborhood kids absolutely love it. I love to make a snowman (still ! ) Next year we're planning on moving to Michigan to be close to my husband's family, so I guess I shall have to learn to love the snow ;)) Your list has helped me already !
ReplyDeletewell, I do not like winter at all . . . I don't think I can find the positive . . . it chills me to the bone and I am cold until summer! ☺ But yeah to you - looking on the bright side!
ReplyDeleteI love this post and reading of your relationship with Old Man Winter. Yes, he can be grumpy but he brings us many things to be thankful for even if they are not our favorite…For example….I love the long days of summer but the shorter ones of winter give me more time inside to knit, edit photographs, watch a favorite movie in front of a fire with a good cup of hot chocolate, spend more time blogging with buddies, etc….I guess you turned me on to being positive about this visitor that has arrived early this year….
ReplyDeleteI love your Tree and blue sky, great shot, lucky you, our old man winter, here in the west country of England, is normally only wet, and that is pretty dreary rain all the time. I would love to enjoy some of yours, but perhaps only every couple of years though! Happy Thanks giving.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, winter! Gorgeous photography of winter and lovely perceptive post taking more delight in the winter season ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to you,
artmusedog and carol
www.acreativeharbor.com
Oh my, what a lot of snow already, Michelle !
ReplyDeleteSome winters we don't have snow at all ...
I love staying cosy inside ... and hot chocolate :-)
Love your single leaf picture !
Have a wonderful weekend,
Sylvia
My attitude toward winter is much the same as yours, Michelle. But I will follow your lead and practice gratitude toward the season. So far - my favorite aspect of winter has to do with food - comforting soups, hot chocolate - oh, and snuggling under my quilt on the sofa next to my husband watching a favorite movie. Your images really put winter into perspective - and the view is not only cold, it's also beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLike you I am going to work on being grateful for winter. Maybe we can do this together. I am grateful for the new photographic opportunities that winter will present, especially as I explore more black and white photography. And in no season do things change more quickly than in winter.
ReplyDeleteWinter in my corner of the world means rain, and that is what we need the most over here (we had three years of drought). I'm thankful for the rain because I know that it will fill our reservoirs (if there is enough rain).
ReplyDeleteThere are always things to be grateful for even if we have to think a little harder in cold weather. I have to say that snow does makes for some great photos.
ReplyDelete