There is Beauty All Around … even in January
I love seasons. I love the feeling of anticipation as one season gives way to the next. I think there is beauty in all the seasons, even winter, where it is admittedly harder to find. Sure, snow is beautiful: snow capped mountains, snow of fir trees, snow flakes on window panes. But without snow, winter is often left with just cold and dark.
Last week I was taking a walk in the cold January twilight (4 pm) and thinking. (Author’s note: I also really love walking. And thinking. Perhaps a blog post for another day.) I was on a hill watching the sunset over the buildings of Alexandria and looking at the trees. Trees have a melancholy, bare beauty in winter: branches reaching up like a thousand open hands to the sky. I love the patterns those dark branches make; so stark against the morning or evening sky, which is often white.
As I looked up through the branches of this particular tree on this particular evening, the setting sun caught the tree with its last light and made it shine. The whole tree – trunk, branches, twigs and all – shone with the yellow, orange light of evening. It was beautiful! I stood still just looking at the sky through the shining tree and felt blessed to see this moment. And then it was gone.
I love the seasons. All of them.
Which season do you love best? What beauty do you see in winter?
Love this post Suzette! I too love the beauty of winter. A week or so ago I went for a walk on a cold, clear, sunny day just following a snow storm the night before. The snow was fresh and cold enough that it was still clinging to the tree branches. The snow squeeked as I walked and the sun made it sparkle. I was bundled up and toasty as could be. The fresh, cold air hitting my face after being inside in forced air heat made be feel invigorated and alive. I love all the seasons, winter included.
(Sigh.) I live in Salt Lake City and there is smog all around. We’re wading in muck here. We always are in January.
This is lovely. I have been away from snow for so long that this sounds especially magical.
Nevertheless, I have a thing for autumn in New York. Nothing beats it for me. Really. NY apple cider and crunchy, bright maple leaves with the smells of autumn– heaven on earth for me.
Summer. I love summer. Mostly because I love my garden, I love going to the orchard to pick fruit, I love eating garden produce and summer is best. Winter? not so much. To make matters worse we’re in a drought, so even though it is grey and foggy and unpleasant, it isn’t a PRODUCTIVE unpleasantness.
Thanks for the beautiful post, Suzette.
I wish I experienced more seasons. I live in Southern California, and the weather is gorgeous most of the time, which is very nice. But I would like to see snow sometimes.
I love winter in photographs.
I’m kidding, kind of . I don’t usually mind winter. I like wearing sweaters and snow can be pretty. But in Chicago school has been cancelled 4 times because of extreme wind chills and that is hard to deal with. Plus, it’s freakin’ cold. Not the kind where you feel cold, the kind where you walk outside and any exposed skin is in pain.
I think, living in Arizona, I have a different take on the seasons. When I lived back East, I loved autumn–bittersweet and beautiful with just enough cold air to bring out one’s warm clothes. But, in Arizona, I hate autumn, it’s cooling down everywhere else, but we’re still in the triple digits until mid-October (and elections happen in the fall–never a fun time when you’re in the minority party).
But, I think winter in Arizona is magical. Cool and beautiful while the rest of the US shivers and shovels snow…this is the time of year I feel lucky to live here.