for the first time in my life... i love winter!

being a jungle girl, midwest winters are a little rough on me. but so far this winter, living in the country rather than the city, it's been a cozy, easy, even delightful, experience. josh & i love being so much more connected to the change in seasons, the hourly moving landscape just outside the door, the daily birds to wonder at (the great blue heron in the river, the flame red cardinal in the snow). last year, in the city, everything for months just felt gray & mucky, & it was hard for my soul. but this... well, it's a soul-nourishing scene to wake up to! this was our front yard last week (the field we love to take dusk or late-night snowy walks in):

a few days later, the snow melted & the river flooded its banks. bill said to keep a close eye on the river, because we might get stuck out here for a few days. but we decided that getting stuck out here really wouldn't bother us (we're homebodies anyway, we have a pantry full of food & an amazing kitchen, & we really kind of like spending 24 hours a day together).

: the trees we sat beneath in summer :

the waters have since receded, & new snows have fallen. here's the backyard scene i have as i sit at my art table...

so i guess there's hope for us--a jungle girl & a midwestern german-finn--& josh's dream to someday build a house (strawbale? cob? live in a yurt?) on the family's land up in michigan. i've always said i wouldn't be able to make it through the winter. this year i'm even making it through the winter with a happy heart.