Passing the Winter Days

Winter certainly can seem to drag on, and last endlessly.  I've found that to combat the endless weariness of gray days that I need to get outside regardless of the weather.  Rain, snow or shine, I've been getting out every day to enjoy the overlooked beauties of winter.  We've had a few days of sunshine, but mostly clouds and rain.  However, that hasn't stopped us from getting outside.  I really think that is the key to beating the winter doldrums, is just getting outside whether the weather is friendly or not.

One Friday afternoon, a friend and I decided to ski up a local mountain road.  The road had been groomed and while it was pretty much uphill, the grade wasn't too difficult for us, and we stopped plenty of times to laugh and catch our breath. 

We came to this lookout and enjoyed the view of the mountains on our skies. 

I didn't bring Riley because my friend brought her dog, and we didn't want to have to keep up with two dogs on an unfamiliar trail.  Copper was a great companion and stayed close with us as we skied.  

A view through the trees of distant mountains.

The scariest part of all was skiing down the road. Our cross country skies were like greased lightening going down the hill.  Doing the "pizza" all the way down was more of a workout than going up!  But we both made it in one piece, and we had some great laughs along the way! 

Riley has learned to get very excited when she seems me getting on my skies.  That means more adventure for her! But at the end of a ski, she gets tired too, and we both stopped to rest in this picture, lol! 

As we skied on the tree farm, I noted that the slash pile that had burned dangerously out of control this past fall was still smoking, and this after all the rain and snow we've had!  I hope the loggers bulldoze this pile once spring arrives, as it is still smoking in the dead of winter. 

There have been a few days of sunshine in January, and when they do come, you get outside to enjoy and soak up that precious sunshine!

I know there are some of  you who dislike winter immensely, but there is just something
about these snow-laden trees, with the freshly fallen snow in the thick of the forest that
if I could take you with me, I think you'd change your mind :) 

These three love getting out in the woods with us.  My husband comes along when he can to snowshoe with me. 

We decided to try a little outdoor cooking too!  My husband got the dutch oven set up, and I added the chicken, potatoes and carrots to the pot.  He took care of cooking it, and did a fine job! 

Here you can see the chicken cooking happily away, out in the snow! 

It was quite fun to cook outside in the snow.  

The chicken was cooked perfectly with a hint of smokiness, crispy and tender.  

Served up on our tin pie plates, there was delight in every bite!

We've had a fair amount of fog this winter, but none more so than on this day when it hung quite low to the ground,
giving the world a rather mysterious appearance. 

And then there have been days with bright sunshine too, and when those days come,
I just want to spend the entire day outside!

 

I've cross-country skied as often as I could, because our snow is melting fast. 
It has become a ritual that I walk in the morning, and ski in the afternoon, weather permitting. 

Loving those bright warm rays of sunshine and the blue shadows. 

 

On our walks, often our neighbors' horses come to the fence to greet us as we walk by. 

Such sweet girls they are!

Eye see you... 

This is a panorama shot of the afternoon skies one evening as I walked. 

The heavens declaring the glory of the Lord!

Down at the river, the lonely park bench beckoned to me as the evening
shadows lengthened and darkness settled in softly. 

 

Such wonder in the skies!  I never, ever tire of the color palette offered up with winter sunsets!

 

To behold such glory in the skies, sometimes it makes my heart ache with the immense beauty of it all. 

And so the winter days are passing by us, slipping away like pearls on a strand... and spring is beckoning in the shadows with whispering anticipation as the days lengthen.  Our snow is melting, and I am sad, because I love the delights of winter so. 

I feel sadness at the end of every season 

for missing what was, 

but then I feel joy, 

for what will come in the next season.  

And so, that is just as life is for us too. 

There are seasons of our life, 

they never last forever, 

and there are joys and sorrows with each one, 

but none last forever... 

the clock keeps ticking away.  

The day is done
The sun has set
Yet light still tints the sky
My heart stands still
in reverance
For God is passing by.
~ Ruth Alla Wager ~

Psalms 36:5-10

 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; 

and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

 

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; 

thy judgments are a great deep: 

O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! 

therefore the children of men 

put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; 

and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

 

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; 

and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Even as clouds often obscure the sunlight for a short time, and seasons come and seasons go... we realize that nothing lasts forever, or is eternal, except for our souls and the One who created us.  How grateful I am to know that the eternal destination of my soul is with the One who created this world in all its majesty.  It is a comfort and a joy to walk through the seasons of life with that hope! 

Look up, up into the skies, and see the mercy of the Lord that is in the heavens, 

and his faithfulness that reaches unto the clouds.

And so... to live life to its fullest, look up to the skies... there is your answer, the heavenlies declare the glory of the Lord, and with each sunrise and sunset full of the majestic array of colors, we can keep our eyes focused on the light, and there can be joy in each moment, for each season of our life.  :)