Pre-Winter

The pre-winter season holds my attention like nothing else does these days. The change from summer to fall was dramatic courtesy of the drought in the midwest this year. Many trees just dropped leaves before any color came, while others flamed brighter than they have in years past.

Now we're entering that "iffy" time of almost winter, but not quite. The weather sooth sayers tell us that the next few weeks will be cold, but then the rest of the winter will be almost balmy...for Michigan. We had that last winter too.

In my years of winter viewing, I've noticed on thing that makes this time of year great for me - as many changes as we have in weather they really cannot predict it well sometimes, and winter is one of those times that can be difficult to understand. It is the one thing that we humans can predict all we want, but often we are still wrong about.

Nature is - for a time at least, still in control. And for that I am glad.

A Winter's Embrace

The beginning of winter. This is my favorite season, not because of the cold, nor because of the darkness, snow or the holidays that are sprinkled in those early months of winter. Instead it is the way that for that moment in time, we must slow down and be in one place when the snow and storms stop traffic and in many ways the whole of the daily parts of life.

To stand at a window and watch a storm have sway in our lives as it blows and puts down layer after layer of work stopping snow. And we stand and watch the silent attacked, for from the inside it seems that silent attacker moving like the great snowy owl in silence like a ghost over the landscape. We can plow and shovel, but if it continues there is no way to conquer Lady Winter. You see she is truly a lady having her way in our lives - holding us captive and if we allow it taking time to actually think and explore life and find the poetry of our lives in the cocooned embrace of a winter storm.

These Days

The season of anticipation is one I adore...but not for the presents, nor the constant Christmas music that haunts the the halls of our local mall. The season holds something that not many others hold. Hope.

At the beginning of the dark and sometimes snowy season lies the hope of spring time, and a hope that people and families will look at what has been lost in fighting and work toward making that thing we call reconciliation. It doesn't always happen. Sometimes Uncle John is still as obnoxious, and that cousin might stay angry, but we all have a vision of a family together at the Holidays whether it comes off or not.

So, we all clean like crazy, and look for that perfect gift that will make someone see that will be excitement and fill all with that warm feeling. Know understand, I'm not mocking the traditions that we know as Christmas today. It holds special gifts for many, but not for me. Christmas for me means so much more than things you can buy or make, or even the snow that covers the gray of this season for us here in the North.

Christmas to me is... The time that time to gaze out the window with someone special and enjoy the cars not flying as fast they do courtesy of the slick roads; sharing tea or coffee with a friend and dwelling on the warmth it provides after shoveling; watching the birds feed at the many trays and feeding stations I have all over my yard; calling people to catch up with their lives and sharing a smile and sometimes a giggle, you get the picture! I could honestly go on forever so I will finish with the simple thought of time as a gift. I will be taking time to enjoy and revel in the time to share, to talk, and to reflect on life in general. And to share smile - just a small smile to pass on to the world.

Who Was St. Nicholas?

It's Sunday night and I'm sitting in front of the computer wondering, "What am I going to write my article weekly on?" Usually, I have it all planned out and my writing time is usually spent simply putting the research and my ideas down on paper. Tonight it isn't coming out very well. So here I sit thinking about Thanksgiving, a sick aunt across the country, anything but the article I need to write!

Okay...I need to focus. St. Nicholas - the Dutch St Nicholas Day - the Dutch-American holiday and what they all say about the holiday that has become a integral part of the world's psyche.

What and who was this saint of children? This saint who was also cared for those in need and those who need to be uplifted? Hmmm... So many questions about a person who n one can even prove really existed. And yet, the reason we celebrate his life is because his radical giving that went way beyond our basic ideas of charity, and kindness. He went outside the box of what we even think of as compassion today. You know, giving money for a good Thanksgiving, a toy or two to the Toys for Tots drive.

Hey, I think I might have an article here! Who was the real saint, and what does the celebration really mean today? Thanks for listening! Oh, and have a great Thanksgiving, and a thoughtful St. Nicholas Day on December 6th!

Hawk on the Prowl

Today I sat in the yard with my coffee enjoying the mild sixty degree November weather. We’ve had a few freezes so most of the flowers and bushes in my yard are already dead. Since we have hawks in the area I often leave brown ones around for cover to help hide area birds when the raptors circle.

As I sat there watching the wind wander though the brown of my yard I saw a very unusual site. From the top of a tall pine in the neighboring yard came a hawk diving down past the house next door and through the small trees to come softly to light on my wooden six foot fence.

At first he sat there with his back to me as if to say, “I’m don’t see you!” but soon he slowly fluttered around to almost face where I was seated on my patio. I could see right away that he was a young Cooper’s Hawk and watching him was a real treat! With every breath of air slid past he fluffed his feathers and looked around for some tiny morsel. As I watch he finally rose into the air almost reluctantly and quickly disappeared in search of food elsewhere.

Gradually, the small birds came back out from their hiding places and began flitting through the yard again. But that moment of majesty made the day have a totally different feel. I love watching all the differences that nature offers here on a daily basis. It reminds me that we’re not the center of life, and we sure aren't alone here!!!

We've Been Done Dirty!

TV has never been good...but now we have a writer's strike and it's nothing but re-runs. I understand the reason I'm into writing and actually sell some of my writings, but it doesn't hurt them as much as it hurts those of us who watch. The same is going on with those of us who live here in Michigan. Our political leaders decided to have our primary early in January, so the national Democrats decided to punish the voters by taking away our choice to vote by dropping out of the race. They did not take away the rights of our leaders, they took away our rights.

Did they do that to any other state for having an early primary? No, just Michigan. So what can we do? Our state has more than a few Democratic voters who could really make a mess for the rest of those who decided to punish us.

How about we all vote for two that are still on the list - Clinton and Dodd! Hey, they've already probably cost us a chance to vote in any primary before the election!

Changing Seasons

It’s that time of year for changes for us here in the North. It began with a bit of cold that pushed its way through the warm screen door and sent summer scurrying further South. At first because of the dry summer I wasn’t sure if we would have our normal colorful fall but some of the trees have exploded with reds so it finally is fall here.

Many here aren’t into fall and winter but I love those seasonal changes. I grew up where those seasons were celebrated by some, though we have our share of snow birds. But the fall and winter are great fun for me even though I have to live in layers. Playing in the leaves can be so much fun with anyone under the age of 6! And there’s nothing like the snow to make snow angels, or snowmen with. (Does anyone remember the snowmen Calvin built in Calvin and Hobbes?)

The seasons are all fun…and your perspective on them is everything!!

Frost, and It's Love/Hate Relationship with Summer

Frost. It covers the grass with a thick coating of white and when you walk through it you can see the path as if you'd walked down a sandy beach.

This morning it sparkled on the grass and surrounding plants like a light snow fall. What really stood out this morning in the frost were the huge leaves of my morning glories who as the sun hit them withered and turned a dark wet green and were almost brown by the end of the day.

I find I love the changes from one season to another. They are so like life, but they bud, bloom and dies so quickly in one season of summer. From that promising first bloom, to the loss of the petals seems so short but the beauty stays and lingers in my life through the pictures I take, and those that haunt my mind throughout the white that comes with winter. The colors linger like the taste that is rolled around on your tongue to hold that wonderful flavor over and over again.

So enjoy the colors and the tastes that explode in the summer. Hold those colors close in those dark days of winter. That's a way to keep summer alive the whole year through.