Cold Friday in February

Bone chilling might really be the best description for the cold. It's the kind of day when the snow crunches beneath your feet and nose freezes shut. People will say that they like the seasons, that they could never live in a place in California, Arizona or Florida because one doesn't get to really experience winter.

Surely Arizonians enjoy summer. The leaves fall in California and the spring rains come in Florida. So, what they're really saying is that they like Winter. I have to admit that the Holiday season would seem strange without snow and cold. However, nose freezing cold and a tank of heating oil per month come along with that joyous noel cheer. It seems like there out to be some sort of a trade there.

One must continually guard against becoming an old grouch. It sneaks up on us. We start to get a little bit inflexible about this, the next door neighbor's eccentricities become annoyances instead. Pretty soon we're trying to find the best shuffleboard game. We'll I don't think I'm there yet.

You see, the fall colors here in New England are just breathtaking. A slight chill in the air lets you know that winter will be here one day, but today requires no more than a sweater in compensation.

Talcott Mountain State Park. Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A little more than five years ago, in October 2004, we made our first trip to Connecticut as a family for one long weekend. That Saturday we piled into Susan's Trailblazer and drove all around suburban Hartford, looking at places in Avon, Simsbury, West Hartford and more. Brilliant oranges, vibrant reds and muddy yellows jumped from the trees. It was beautiful.

The five autumns since then have been more or less spectaular. Some years the colors are a little muted. I think it has something to do with the amount of rain in the summer. Still, they have all been wonderful.

Since the holidays ended, I've been struggling with what to post in the blog. I took the trash out this morning, crunched through the snow and found my inspiration. The cold and the seasons aren't the only things to report. Marisue joined us in mid January for a nice visit, and the boys have started their spring semesters at Tunxis. Both are taking full schedules.

More to follow