Seasons
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Seasonal musings
I’m back — after a short break from the whirlwind of October. But I’m not complaining — because I love fall weather. My energy always runs higher when the leaves change colors and “fly” before carpeting parks and lawns everywhere. One of my October highlights was a leaf-peeping tour of northern Michigan, early in the month. After Doug and I returned, it was time to celebrate the spooky season. I managed to fit in everything from the Detroit Zoo Boo with our grandson to Witches Night Out at Leon & Lulu, where I won a costume prize for my Stevie Nicks outfit. (There’s a photo of me with my witchy…
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Transitions
“It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” – William Bridges September is a month of transitions. A new school year begins; summer activities wind down. As the light changes and temperatures drop, we prepare our homes and gardens for winter. We begin to stock the pantry with everything we need for cool-weather comfort recipes. In my “Aging with Grace & Courage” workshop last night, a woman remarked about the bittersweet aspects of autumn. She feels a little sad when fall comes, she said, even though she appreciates the beauty of the season. I knew exactly what she meant. A reminder of our own aging,…
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Summer hasn’t left yet …
“Summer nearly does me in every year. It’s too hot and the light is unforgiving and the days go on way too long.” ~Anne Lamott, humorist and author We tend to think of late August as the end of summer — but the season isn’t officially over until the autumnal equinox, which falls this year on September 23. So let’s not rush things! Don’t waste another minute complaining about heat and humidity. Grab a cold beverage and head for the front porch or patio. Invite summer to stay a while longer. And while you’re at it, make plans to savor every fair-weather activity you can fit on your calendar for…
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Welcome, April!
“It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor.” ~Max Eastman Happy April Fool’s Day! Though I don’t have any pranks or jokes today, my mood always lifts as soon as I flip the wall calendar to April 1st. The sound of the word “April” works like an antidepressant. Mother Nature might have a few tricks up her sleeve, but no matter what the weather brings in the next couple of weeks, my sense of optimism tells me that winter is behind us. I’m thinking about my garden again, making plans, feeling hopeful. Happy weekend to all! ~CL
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Winter Solstice
“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.” ~Margaret Atwood Today, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice. The Farmer’s Almanac describes it as “the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, and we have our shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.” No matter where you live, the solstice marks the official start of winter. While it seems counterintuitive, the longest night of the year also holds a glimmer of hope: Each day afterward will be…
