“In this mild winter weather, everything appears hopeful and possible. Leisure and delight are wedded. Without leisure, there is no time to feel and to savor.”
— Gunilla Norris, “Embracing the Seasons”
We are now officially in our third week of winter when north winds blow and temperatures plummet. Weather reports suggest there may be a freeze, possibly even a snowflake or two.
Going outside requires a heavy coat, a cap, a scarf, perhaps waterproof boots. We are not as prepared for winter as they are in the northern states. Our four seasons can sometimes happen all in a week’s time. The week may start out as blustering winds and chilling temperatures, only to rise before the week’s end. On the warmer days filled with sunshine a family down the road can be seen walking almost daily. Sometimes the youngest one rides his bike and the father carries a cane or a long stick, I’m sure in case a threatening dog should appear; he could be gently warded off. It’s good to get outside into the fresh air and sunshine as much as possible. It goes a long way in lifting the spirits.
Another neighbor, parent and daughter, took to bike riding the rolling hills of our gravel road. This is no easy feat. I’ve tried it myself and it was not to my liking. However, the two of them seemed to glide effortlessly.
In the early morning before daylight, gunshots can be heard from the river. No doubt the duck hunters are out. To me duck hunting in the cold morning hours must be the worst of activities. How much more do I like slowly waking to a hot cup of coffee inside where the air stays toasty warm. Each to his own. From the pictures posted of a day’s kill, duck hunters must find their sport very rewarding. On occasion, the pictures reflect a bonding of father and son and sometimes daughter.
Winter is also a time of deer hunting here in the Prairie. Some deer hunters creep into the woods early and others go nearer the end of the day. These are the two best times for seeing deer moving. While we like to admire the deer and not hunt them, Sam says, “The hunters are getting food for the freezer.” Judging from the business of the deer cleaning, it’s been a good year for the freezer.
Then there’s fishing. Fishing is thought mainly as a spring to fall activity but there’s a lot of fishing going on in the winter as well. It takes a diehard fisherman to venture out into cold winter air and frigid water for a day of fishing.
Winter can also draw us inward to solitary activities like reading, crafting. Some have taken to knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, drawing, journaling, crafting and sending notecards, jigsaw puzzles, letter writing, discovering a fun online class, cooking new recipes, papercrafts including snowflakes, paper dolls, origami, trying crossword puzzles, solitaire card games, learning card tricks, watching old movies, sorting family photos, learning the star constellations and planets, walking or hiking new areas, taking photographs and videos with your phone and posting. The possibilities are endless.
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