A Fond Farewell
For the first time in memory, I have found solace during the long nights and short cold days of winter. Living in Ohio, the grey skies often brought me into a mental place that was less then desirable. I hated the cold but didn't like being trapped indoors either. This year, I was faced with the long stretch of potentially dreary months, with two small children in tow. My life / work balance no longer exists and being a parent has become my life. One that I love, but one that would be greatly hindered if I let harshness of winter creep into my spirit. I'm not sure how, but this year I found a deep rooted inspiration, motivation, and fascination with the season that I used to fight against. Instead of fighting, this year I have found a way (still baffled by how this all happened!) to become one with the great outdoors, no matter what the weather threw at me. I even started looking forward to the cold crisp air on my face. It was if something audible clicked into place. Winter became my friend.
We had wonderful adventures this winter. The kids and I became very familiar with our winter gear and knew that hot cocoa and evening fires awaited us when we got home. We went out in the rain, the snow, the wind, and the freezing temperatures. Luckily, our winter was (scary from an environmental standpoint) good to us this year. There were a lot of breaks in the weather, allowing us to wander out without our gloves and snow pants quite often.
Every week we found ourselves out in the woods, exploring various trails and often wandering off the beaten path. It is amazing how many ways kids find to entertain themselves with only natural materials at hand. Open fields are great places to race. Rainy days make for great ice and puddle explorations when equipped with the right gear. Sticks are great for poking dirt or snow and finding the perfect stick is half the fun. The list goes on. Who needs a playground with a slide and a swing, we have the trees to entertain us.
As the kids ran and laughed, I took pictures. I took in moments. I noticed details and sketched them out in my journal in the evenings when the kids were in bed. I found a place for my artwork, I realized our nature walks had become a perfect place to collect ideas and material for my own creative work. The winter woods became my art studio.
So now that the seasons are shifting, (a change I usually welcome with open arms!), I'm finding that I'm a bit sad. I will miss having the woods all to ourselves on the days that most stayed indoors. The barren trees that I used to find miserable, I've now realized serve another purpose to an outdoor explorer. The leafless trees and plant-free ground suddenly reveal all the hidden holes, cracks, trails, rocks, and other treasures that are normally covered up in a carpet of green. The rays of the early evening sun, made those woods a magical place. And we often made it out to end our day right where we needed to be.
As the spring equinox approaches we are not under any allusion that it will bring with it a sudden shift in temperature. This is Ohio. But we are already seeing signs of life everywhere. The dormant world is waking up. It is an amazing thing to see. The dirt, dried leaves, and fallen branches are being masked by a sudden shock of green. Robins are everywhere. Buds are beginning to appear on the trees. Getting outside almost daily, I've grown accustomed to the cold. I have a library of books by my bed that dive into the secrets of the winter world. My artwork is full of empty landscapes and lines visible only in the wash of grey this time of year. So, while we all happily await the warmer days of spring and will gladly throw our heavy winter coats and hats to the side, for the more carefree adventures that await... I have to say I will miss winter this year, for the first time.
