Gratitude Monday --Yay Spring Edition

Spring arrived this morning. I am so grateful. Not because it means the end of winter, but because I appreciate having definite seasons. They often overlap or get downright confused with a +20 Christmas Day one year and snow in July another, but they have their own style of weather and that's what's important.

Spring is also a very optimistic time. Plants start up believing in the sun and rain and the soil, animals mate believing in replenishing life, and humans? Well, the nice warm days and longer light makes most of us feel better.
So it's a new season, and in many ways a new year with a new life cycle, and for it I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday -Preparing For Change Edition

The seasons are changing and for it I am grateful. The differences make for obvious markers as time continues along its path.
Fall is a few days away and the leaves are getting ready to go out in a blaze of colour.
If one must change, then do so with style.

Gratitude Monday --New Fall Colours

I love the changing of the seasons. How else can one know how good a season is unless there's something with which to compare it?
Each must be assessed on its own, but to do it there must be a point of demarcation.
I am blessed to live in a land where the change of the season is both obvious and beautiful.
Autumn arrived officially on Saturday. No one told the leaves to wait so they began donning their new fall colours a few weeks earlier.
For as much as we may lament the turn toward winter,  we appreciate the final burst of joy from Nature as she quietens for the cold.
I am grateful for the changes of my world, grateful I can see it and smell and it feel it on my face, and grateful for what each new seasons brings.

***

Regular visitors may find the photo familiar. I take pictures of this train trestle archway each year. Th e above photo was taken yesterday.  For me, it is the portal to the new season.

Gratitude Monday - Seasons

The sun has been shining lately. It's been warm and bright and melty around town.
It's a nice change after having everything locked up with cold.
I enjoy the running water, the mud puddles, and the promise of life renewed.
I am grateful for the change of seasons. I know many people who say they'd like to move to a warmer climate. Some days I'm inclined to agree though only briefly.
I need a definite change in seasons. Too hot in summer puts winter in perspective. A too cold winter does the same.
I like to see the ground covered in white as much as I like to see it covered in green. I like to see the trees turn to red and gold. I love the sound of the fallen leaves skittering along the ground on a cool, windy autumn day.
Soon we'll hear the honking geese and the trilling cranes headed north for the too-short summer.
Of course we're nowhere near done with winter. There'll be more snow soon and a few more truly cold nights. But that's okay. Winter's back is broken and spring is on the way.
#
The picture is from our trip to BC last Thanksgiving weekend. It's along the highway just north of Kaslo.