Let's Talk About the Weather

Have you noticed that the hottest topic around seems to be the weather?  The snow is melting in Sochi, it's icing in Atlanta, there is 13 feet+ of snow in parts of Michigan.  The temperatures are below zero...not just a little bit, but in the double digits!  The sun shines maybe once a week and the wind blows cold and strong.  The drive to work is dangerous, and children can't go to school because it's too cold to stand outside at a bus stop.

And life goes on.  I do live in one of those states which has a reputation for fickle weather...and lots of it. I grew up hearing:  If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes.  Or was that two minutes?  Or ten?  Not remembering exactly, I did an Internet search.  The results both surprised, and irritated me!

If you don't like the weather in Texas... Just blink!

If You Don't Like The Weather in Chicago, wait a minute.

If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes.

Mark Twain wrote, "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes."

And remember, if you don't like the weather in St. Louis, just wait ten minutes.

Yup, if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes -- it'll change!

If you don't like the weather in Melbourne, just wait five minutes.

If you don't like the weather in Washington, well, just wait a minute.

If you don't like the weather in Boston, just wait a minute.

Will Rogers once quipped, "If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute and it'll change." 

Why am I irritated?  Because I actually LIKED the fact that Michigan had it's own quote!  Another reason I'm irritated?  Because I'm tired of being cold.

I will not complain about the snow (unless I'm trying to get somewhere and it's drifting across the road).  I love the beautiful snow in Michigan, which coats the pines and provides a clean blanket across the yard.  The tracks of all our "visitors" look beautiful when the early morning light throws the tracks in shadow and the snow around them glitters.  We haven't had GOOD snow in Michigan in a very long time, and if it's going to be winter, bring it on.
 

We feed the birds in the winter, so the wildlife in our yard increases.  This year we have had so many visitors to our yard there are times I felt we DO live in the "Wilderness," as my young nephew labeled our retreat years ago.   Once upon a time I would have been able to spend more time outside photographing, but now I enjoy the spaces I have carved out from which to take photos in a more comfortable environment.  On sunny, windless days I venture outside - the place I'd rather be
.

So here we sit in February, knowing we have at least 6 more weeks of winter.  Knowing there will be more snow.  And cold.  And wind.  And LOTS more talk about the weather.

Just try and find the moments each day to stop and smell those proverbial roses -  watch the play of light on snow, the depth of shadows around snowbanks and animal tracks.  The sunsets and sunrises of a winter's day are full of beauty and grace.

How do YOU stop to appreciate winter weather?

Enjoy!