To everything there is a season...

I've always said that every season is welcome when it arrives. I still believe that mantra so much.
Sure, winter gets a little old when I'm itching to plant things, but no one can deny that the the cozy cuddling under blankets feels good, and first snowflakes taste good on your tongue.

Whenever I talk about the seasons, people ask me what my favorite one is. I struggle to pick a favorite. Each one is so great. Spring is obviously wonderful...things growing, and color exploding after such a long term of whites and browns. Green never looks so bright as it looks in spring.
Summer is so much fun. The garden starts to really produce, filling your table with yummy tomato plates and grilled zucchini. The hiking is amazing, and I can't forget to mention swimming...I love summer swimming. We found the greatest swimming hole this summer (well, I can't say found, it was shown to us by friends.) It's a beautiful swimming hole right below a tame waterfall, with great circles cut out of the rocks, cutting the water to a surprising depth of 25-30 feet. The water's crystal clear to the bottom, and the natural water slide can't be beat.
Fall is a wonderful collage of sweaters, crisp leaves, and wonderfully chilly breezes. There's always work to be done, between canning, freezing, and drying. I love putting food away for the coming year, knowing that I will be eating of the earth's bounty all year. When winter comes, scarfs feel good around your throat, boots are nice and cozy, and a fireplace, if you have one, is the best place in the world. The world is blanketed in a beautiful layer of white goodness, making even the most mundane areas sparkling and beautiful. Snowshoeing is almost more fun than hiking, and sledding is some of the best fun ever had.
Each season is great, in its season, so how could I pick a favorite.

Right now, between the ripe life of summer and the crisp chill of fall, is probably my favorite time of year, if I had to pick, although it's not really a season. It's at the end of summer, and on the cusp of Fall. You can feel the change of the seasons in the air, the very sunshine looks and feels different. The leaves haven't changed yet though, and the fields, full of goldenrod, queen anne's lace, and my favorite: black-eyed susans, are just throbbing with life. There isn't the smallest spot but something is alive there. You're still enjoying the beauty and warmth of the summer, but the excitement of the coming harvest and the nights beginning to feel chilly, are so satisfying. I just love the earth. It's so versatile, and I'm so happy to live in a place where I get to experience every season, drinking in it's beauty and wealth. The Lord sure knew what He was doing when he made this place.