It has been awhile.  Though I haven't been posting here, I have been sharing some of this work on a couple Facebook groups and occasionally IG.  It is a part of a larger series that I have tentatively labeled ' Conversation in the Downside Up'.  That may change. I saw a post today of a poem that says so much of what this speaks to.  I'm copying it here. 

Blanket

Take every leaf on every tree
and put its tired green to bed,
and when the green has gone to sleep
and red and yellow lift their heads,

set them shining in the sky,
wild against the blue expanse.
Loosen them and let them fly,
stir the wind until they dance

in airy swirls. Then lay them down
under the gentle hands of rain.
Turn their colors all to brown,
decompose their withered veins,

press them drenched in sodden layers,
freeze them with your icy sighs,
bless them with your wintery prayers.
Under them the springtime lies.

Kathie Fiveash

We ended the season the way we began, enjoying an I cream sundae, outdoors, wearing our down jackets.  When the warm season is as short as it is up here, you push the boundaries.  Saturday morning was in the low 20’s, the pond went from slush to a couple inches within an hour or so.  Until today, there has been some version of icy cold precipitation in the air for the last five days.    By this afternoon, after we had finished with all of our ‘winter’s coming’ chores, checked each line on the list and washed our hands..it had melted.  

I happen to love this time of year.  So many changes in the weather.  The greys are just beginning.  We’re still have daylight savings time.  The cold wet air feels fresh and there is a deep earthy smell.  Every evening the wood stove is lit and the house is really warm, all the way into the corners.  I’m wearing socks during the day and am barefoot at night.  Best of all.. there’s apple pie, lots and lots of apple pie.