Yes I know, it’s only October, but I love snow. Watching it fall out the window, lots and lots of it piling up on every available surface. Our dog, Racer, in her big Alaskan Malamute coat, used to love to run through the big drifts and bury her nose in the snow, then her face would come up and she’d have a fluffy white pile on the end of her nose. Off she’d go again, racing under the deck, around the yard, up the stairs and back down. Sometimes she’d jump up on the rail and lick the coating off the Christmas lights. Silly dog!

Snow always makes everything feel so clean and white, covering up all sadness and loneliness, and bringing a fresh start. Something about snow falling draws out our compassion and love and there is a general sense, at least for me, of the gentleness of our spirits. Although it can seem bleak, with stick like trees holding what snow they can, there are also bushy evergreens that can bear the burden for those who are weaker in winter.

Snow holds the promise of sledding, riding behind the snowmobile on the big toboggan, catching flakes on your tongue, building snowmen, making snow angels, and the warmth and coziness of a crackling fire and gathering with people that I love. Of course, the hot cocoa with marshmallows is always appreciated.

Yes, winter can be cold, windy and blizzardy, but it offers a chance to reflect, especially in the darkness that comes in early evening and lingers into the lateness of dawn. I love the simplicity of winter: brown and white, heavy jackets and work gloves, chili with crackers and the soft glow of lamps to curl up and read by.