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Winter has finally arrived in the upper Midwest. Right up until Christmas, we had only an occasional dusting of snow and uncommonly warm temperatures. Shortly after that holiday, we received several light snowfalls and colder temps, all adding up to a decent snow cover, enough for sledding, skiing and snowshoeing. While many bemoan the cold and dark of the winter months, I relish them. Nature's "sleep" is a time for inward contemplation, a kind of hibernation of the mind that affords time and solitude for restoring the spirit. There is something magical about walking during a snowfall, and on a still, moonlit night out in the woods, one can sometimes hear the faint "hiss" of falling snow. And, a night hike in a snowy woods under a bright moon affords and eerie glow, one that negates the need for a headlamp. Bottom line? I love winter, as I do all the seasons.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”                  John Steinbeck