Winter Wonderland

The temp has gone up two degrees since 10 AM making it a whopping 5 below right now!! Almost ready for summer (not).
I went outside to get eggs from the barn to make cookies (no, no chickens yet, the fridge is in the barn because there is electricity in the barn) and I thought I would freeze on the spot. It’s that nasty cold when you feel the water vapour in the air freeze as you breathe it in.
A serviceman from Agway told me this morning “I get the point, it’s winter and all, but it doesn’t have to be this cold!”
So where are we, January 9th? This is not good, I have already had it, had it, had it with darkness, snow cold and ugly, dull winter clothes that are not only boring, but take a bazillion loads to wash because it is all heavy denims, sweatshirts and sweaters. For as long as I can remember, I wondered by what freak of nature I ended up in a climate with winter and not somewhere more suited to me that has nothing but beaches, frolicking and pina coladas.
I guess I can look at the flip side. Winter offers a time of rest, hibernation and some down time. Winter offers, um, time for penance to offer up when you are miserable with getting the car stuck in the wind drifts-again. Winter gives you a chance to make things like roast beef you would probably never make in the summer. Winter helps you save money because you never want to leave the house and do money draining recreational activities because it’s cold out, the roads are dangerous, your hair is always messed up from hat head and by the time you get everyone’s mittens, hats and scarves on (after yelling at everyone for losing one glove) and pulling and arm muscles out trying to stretch the carseat straps over their snowsuits, you have no desire to go anywhere because you’re tired and done for the day. Of course you also spend the money you save on Christmas and heating bills. Winter does give us the gift of fall and spring which are my favourite seasons next too summer. Seriously, until I moved to upstate NY where winter lasts nine months out of the year, I never appreciated the beauty of the other three seasons/months like I do now.