It’s the time of year when temps in the 30s feel gentle and you walk out in just a fleece
and smile at the sun and your neighbors.
It’s the time of year when the dripdripdrip of icicles in the sun is a joyful song
when the seeds and cups of dirt on the table at preschool look like hope.
It’s the time of year when my garden looks like this:
And I dream of this:
and start saving milk jugs for this:
It’s the time of year when I reread The Long Winter
and get grateful for piles of wood and deliveries of oil to keep us warm instead of twisted hay to keep us from freezing to death
and for a well stocked fridge and freezer instead of rationed potatoes and hand-ground wheat.
It’s the time of year when even my kids are sick of snow
but they’ll still shriek and whoop their way down the sledding hill.
It’s the time of year when I look forward to eating lots of pancakes
and hope the sap will be running so that moist, sweet steam will fill the air while we eat.
It’s the time of year when everything seems barren,
but you hear the birds singing, loud and clear through the cold air.
It’s the time of year when you are almost in despair,
but you look out the window just before supper and notice that it’s still light.
It’s the time of year when the light and melting
the maple syrup and the seeds
and the dreams of green
get you through
as you wait for more sunshine,
more warm
and mud.
Your Turn
Write with Me:
I’ve used this prompt last summer. I’m not recycling because I’m lazy, but because I’ve been thinking about this time of year, because I’m ready for change and it looks so far off.
Whether you tried this one before or not, grab a pen and finish this sentence:
It’s the time of year when . . .
What are the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this time of year? What’s happening in this season, in your life right now?
Share It:
In the comments, tell me about about this time of year where you are or add a link to your blog where you write about this time of year.
Cups of seeds look like hope! Yes, one of my favorite things is watching seeds grow 🙂
It’s the time of year when…my color palette turns to aqua and Robin’s egg blue and the tart green of new growth.
That color palette sounds so refreshing, Cynthia. Tart green makes me think of rhubarb (a mix of color and taste), which makes me think of spring and fast, fabulous growth.
It’s that time of year when I’m ready to trade in my heavy winter boots and bulky coat for sandals and a sweater. I crave vibrant colours like green and pink. I want to see lush grash and bright tulips. Summer seems so far away and every time the snow melts it seems like Mother Nature is such a tease.
Yes, yes, I want to be able to just take the dog out without making a project of getting ready—and I think how uncluttered my house will look when I subtract the snow suits and piles of boots and the drying rack for coats and snow pants and hats and mittens. I keep reminding myself spring and summer will come again, they always do, even though at this time of year it always feels slightly impossible.
It’s that time of year when I wish I could travel to someplace warm- where I didn’t have to spend 5 minutes bundling up to go outside. It’s that time of the year when my positivity about winter- It’s so pretty! I love the seasons!- that I have carefully cultivated and been slightly smug about- has deserted me. More snow today and two feet of ice in the harbour.
I remember that time of year. When you’re just hoping for a little crocus and itching to shed the winter boots. Ontario winters are long and cold. Cars not starting, losing power, icy eyelashes. I don’t miss it. I do miss the snow. I miss the snow forts and snow men. I miss the crisp winter walks. But I choose West Coast winters now. Give me rain and gloom for a couple months with sunshine and flowers to follow.
It’s the time of year when I reflect on my mama and all she was in my life. Do I forgive? Do I move on? Or day I stay frozen like the pond …ready to thaw and start to live again in the spring?
Selena, sounds like a big question—and probably a process that is messy and long like the end of winter. Hope you have some thawing soon.