I'm melting....

I'm MEEEEELTING....

Holding my little personal fan in front of my face trying to cool off after carrying 

just 2 bags into the house from the car. What you can't see is the sweat dripping off my face!

It's a sorry site for anyone, hence the photo-edit fun.

Below is a snapshot of our local Facebook weather post

Note the "Misery Meter" as being DISGUSTING.... 

that is how I feel today, after only 2 minutes outside. 

For me it's worse than oppressive, it just makes me feel icky. 

I don't mean for this post to start up an argument about the weather and who likes what better, 

I only want to explain my reason for loving fall & winter better.

Yesterday, today and the rest of the week are exactly why I love fall and winter. 

Summer is not MY season.

The heat and humidity goes against what is comfortable for me, it make me quite miserable.

My face sweats, so I don't even know why I put make-up on in the morning. 

I feel irritable, lazy, tired and all around blah.

SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) is not limited to the winter months.

 There is a true Seasonal Affective Disorder for some people in the summer ( I googled it)

I don't really have that because I don't get depressed, 

but I can see how I could get depressed if I had to live in this for very long. 

Isn't summer suppose to be a time for being outside and enjoying the weather, 

for some they do, and that's what they love... but not for everyone.

I don't enjoy being cooped up in the house day after day with the A/C on, that gets old fast!

(Remember summer is the season that your suppose to be outside)

Winter is more of a In-the-house kind of season, because of the snow and colder temps. 

but I actually enjoy being out in the winter, it's refreshing and exhilarating.

I look forward to the quiet & beauty of winter, it slows me down and it's bearable.

I love cozy sweaters and blankets, I love snuggling up with a good book and a cup of coffee.

I enjoy winter walks and hikes.

In order for me to enjoy summer it needs to be under 77 degrees with minimal humidity.

Or

I just need to go up to the cabin where I've got the lake a few steps out my door.

The lake is cool, relaxing and just about perfect. 

The lake is calling my name this week.....soon

These are my own personal feelings about summer, with all this being said, I do enjoy the change of seasons in Minnesota minus the the super hot and humid days of summer!
Luckily there are not a lot of those days.

It's winter....but more snow please...

Yes it was -14 degrees this morning, with a -34 below wind chill,

 this is considered pretty cold even in Minnesota.

I don't usually get too worked up about "Minnesota cold"

 so as I left my warm cozy house for work this morning here's what I pondered....

 

* The snow was beautiful and glistened like diamonds, did you notice? If not, you should it's quite beautiful!

* I could see my breath....for that I am grateful!

* My car is a great protection with a heater that works great.

* I wore my coat for the 2nd time this winter (I walk 4 blocks to works, so thought it was warranted)

* I wore socks..... this is a very rare occurrence.

* The air was so refreshing, but 4 blocks was about long enough.

* There was no wind so the wind chill of -34 didn't even cross my mind and I wouldn't have known it was that low if I didn't watch the morning news before work.

Many of you know I'm a Lover of winter, I love the quiet beauty of it.

I appreciate the shorter, more peaceful days, and the crisp cool air.

I like to hike in the winter, we have snow-shoed and

 I hope to ice fish with my brother at some point. 

Winter is part of Gods creation and plan for Minnesota so I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Some of you may say, well then what's all the complaining about in the summer.

 Yes I'm guilty but in recent years have tried not to be so negative.

 Summer makes me miserable with the heat and humidity,

 just as it makes some miserable in the cold brutal winters.

 I think we all have our preferences.

There is probably good and bad to all seasons, but that's really why I love Minnesota,

 the change of seasons are the best! 

Just a little more snow please   :)

Without Winter there would be no Spring...

For those of you who are weary and wishing for spring

 I give you this gift...

Day Lilly's in my front garden from last spring.

Rachel is a blogger friend of mine over at youngadventures

I left her with this comment on her post titled  "Dumped"

"I feel bad for those of you who are tired of winter,

I will be feeling the same when the heat/humidity of summer arrives.

I would like to go right from winter to fall and back to winter again.

Hang in there my friend...

because without winter there would be no spring"

Some encouragement for my summer-loving friends.... 

you know who you are  :)

From the inside....looking out

 This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Psalm 118:24

With that being said, I will be glad in this day, because the Lord has made it!

I can be glad and somewhat uncomfortable at the same time....

 As most of you know.... I'm not a lover of hot & humid weather, 

which defines this day to the tee!

Those of you that love summer are confused, why your might say?

Well, each of us are different, and we react differently to fluctuating temperatures
 therefore we enjoy certain season's more than others.

In the summer...

My face sweats profusely (like dripping wet)....therefore no more makeup left by mid day.

Imagine trying to look nice for the day... but within hours,

 makeup sweat off by noon with hair that is now limp and flat....image

It drains me of my energy

I feel yucky, lethargic

If you know me, you also know I love winter, are you confused again?  

Yes I sit inside during winter and admire the beauty of the fresh snow, but in my head that's what is expected in the winter, it is more of an indoor season so that would be the normal thing to do. 

I feel put together, my "face" is on, my hair has some spring to it and I love the crisp cool air when I step outside.... I'm in MY element  :)  

 I do "summer" better when it's mid to upper 70's. Maybe that's why I like Fall so much

I get to keep my makeup on, my hair retains some kind of volume and I feel energetic.

As long as my plants have partial shade they are pretty happy, 

my Gerbera daisies, that I got for Mother's day are in their 3rd bloom.... 

So pretty looking out from my air-conditioned house, for which I am thankful!

Today is very hot & humid, 

but I will be glad and rejoice in it...

from the inside looking out!

For me, myself & I...looking forward to this

It's been a rainy day

So it's Spring, many of you have been ready for it since the beginning of March!

Me...not so much,

 as you all know, I really prefer Winter over Spring.

We all have the right to favor one season over another. 

We all have our own reasons for the seasons we prefer.

Here's what I believe...

 I believe God made the seasons (ALL THE SEASONS) for us to enjoy.

 so since it is spring, and spring is what it is...

 I will rejoice and be glad in it!

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow ~ Proverb

My trusty Camera and I set out this morning to capture some rainy day photo's 

Daylight....on a rainy day 

The early bird got it's worm 

A heart warming surprise in my mailbox on this rainy, dreary spring day...

Thanks Valerie, You always have my heart in check  :)

So what's your favorite season?

After winter is done

Trying to think of some reasons that I can yield to my love of winter and

 be happy about a soon to come spring!

 Spring is not my favorite season, 

in fact in comes in a close 2nd of least favorite, right behind summer!

But I will relish in the fact that God gave us the change of seasons, 

and I really DO appreciate that.

I guess it's fair to say we all have our favorites,

God created them all so therefore

 I will try to do better and see the best in all four!

(I just wish it wasn't so humid in the summer...it's miserably intolerable to me, 

if that weren't the case I think I could like it more).

I miss this..... 

for this I will welcome spring, but only AFTER, winter is done  :)

An early visit

I will never take Minnesota's first substantial snowfall for granted.

It's not that it's so surprising,

Lord knows it's gonna eventually snow,

It's minnesota for goodness sakes.

It's just so beautiful and qentle and calming.

Today is October 23rd...

the first undeniable snowfall has arrived !

I"m a "born & raised" Minnesotan

and I'd have to say,

this time, it took my by surprise...

just a little

~~~

So out came my camera, when it all started this morning,

One minute it was fall with beautiful, colorful leaves

and the next minute...

WINTER ! ! !

*

*

This afternoon I jumped in the car to shoot some winter delight... In October

Gavin shoveling,

Something tells me this will all be gone by tomorrow afternoon, but that's ok...

It's only October 23rd, I need to mow a few more times....

and the farmers need to get their corn in.

~~~~~~~~~So...spring is apparently here

Ugh... The first day of Spring is something that in our heads, sounds wonderful, but I actually dread it. We dream of birds singing, flowers springing up out of the ground, open windows and a warm breeze, but instead it's usually cold,(my fireplace is on), blustery and damp. I checked The flower status and the Crocus's are even too afraid to come out, but here's what they'll look like when they do finally appear

Last springs crocus's

~

Spring is my least favorite season and today is the First day of spring but not, "Spring-like".

As I left the house this morning it felt damp and cold, everywhere I look, it's dirty, The sky is basically gray with a few wisps of sunshine early on. As I usually do, I thanked God for his artwork up above..It was short...but sweet.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
Henry Van Dyke (My friend valerie also shared this little diddy with me today)

On the bright side Spring will come.... It really will. Soon the May showers will come and everything gets cleaned up. LATE SPRING is what I really enjoy, the flowers begin to sprout, the warm breeze is welcomed with open windows, and the birds sing me awake in the morning.

OK... I'm gonna go lay in front of the fire now and celebrate "Spring"

Winter or spring ????

This is actually the time of year that I despise ......

Judging from the above pictures that I took today,

it's hard to tell if it's winter or spring.
*

These two aren't sure either.

*

The pot holes in the street are awful, and everything is murky gray.

I'm afraid spring is still a ways off, so I'll just have to put-up with this in-between stuff for now.

On a little brighter note (atleast for us girls who love purses)

*
Have any of you seen this purse? (captured this pic in the Target parking lot)

It's a purse with an exchangable MAGNETIC outer cover. So the outer cover just snaps in place.... a friend of mine has one and she presently has a tiger print cover. It's a great idea and I wish I had come up with it. I think I need to get one of these.

4 lovely inches

Woke up to a glorius snow fall this morning....

actually I woke up to a brillant neighbor who decided to use his snowblower at 6:30am.

Waitin' on the snow

Dirty melted snow is NOT my idea of winter. If it's gonna be cold and it's February, well then....

It ought to be snowin'

I will be looking forward to the big snows of March. If you live in Minnesota you know what I mean !

Every March we get a big snow storm with alot of accumulation of that pretty white stuff. But just in case you dont remember, here's a few years that I captured the "March snow storms" whoop whoop

~~~~~

March 21 2008

~~~~

March 2, 2007

~~~

March 18, 2005

(Note 9 inches, it was glorius)

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalms 74:17

I know most people are not avid fans of winter, in fact I'm hearing that many are just getting plain sick of it !

WELL..... I thought I would use my love of winter to cheer you up, or maybe give you a bit of advice so that you might appreciate it or perhaps perceive it with a different view (I know that's a lot to ask)

God gave us 4 wonderful seasons to enjoy...without winter we'd only have 3

~~~

Have you ever heard the saying...."One with nature" ?

~~~

The next few picture show wondrous ways to stay warm,

believe me I dont like to be cold, but

winter = cold, so I Deal with it the best I can.

If you have a fire place, snuggle up on the couch and enjoy the radiant heat.

(Screw the heat bill...It's winter, that's why we have fireplaces).

~~~

(Left), waterbed temp 82 degrees. (Right) House setting...we choose 68 degrees.

Oh the waterbed...yah, I know those went out in the 90's. Not ours, we love it, and you'd all be jealous of the cozy warmth, there's just no denying it.

~~~

If you gotta go out. might as well meet a friend, (or daughter) for lunch and have some steamy, yummy tomato bisque soup. Ok, so you dont like tomato soup, then there's always mac' & cheese.

~~~

Now you're all wondering...why the HyVee bags???

Dahhhh, Can we say drive up! Makes getting groceries in the bitter cold tolerable !

~~~

And last but not least, there's always "extra-hot vanilla latte's" from StarBucks or

just the good old hot cup of coffee at home to help take the chill out of the bones.

~~~

So there you go.... It's winter so delight in it.

Dont wish the time away, spring will be here soon enough.

So for now just bundle up and enjoy

~~~

P.S. I've been a blogging maniac lately, so be sure to scroll down and see my other blogs

True Minnesotans

Dont let the snow stop us..... Tonight, Rick and I went to the movie "yes man". It would take some pretty extreme weather to keep us in. The movie was funny and the company was even better :)

On the way home My sweet husband noticed that the gas tank in my van was nearly empty. He said he "wasnt about to have me going out in this stuff tomorrow and have to fill it up". I'm thinking...wow, it's freezing out, the wind is blowing snow like crazy and did I mention it's REALLY cold out! I really do feel quite spoiled and so well "taken care of". He's the good ole' fashion kind of guy that still opens the door for me (even in the grocery store parking lot). He takes my arm in the winter so I wont fall, and even takes me on dates in the middle of the week.

Ok, that's enough of my gushy talk....

thought I would post a picture of my guy shoveling the driveway when we got home from the movie, He really seems to enjoy himself out there

I think Rick and his shovel does a better job than

the 'snow-blowed" driveway across the steet!