The long, cold winter: I used to dread it too. Now I look forward to a respite from chiggers, ticks mosquitoes, poison ivy, humidity, heat, and other hazards of summer. Just, not TOO cold, please, none of that prolonged, sub-zero stuff, and no icy roads, but snow is pretty and the curl of smoke against pewter skies, the smell of woodfires burning, and hot cider mulling.... yeah, pass me the knitting needles, I might even learn to knit a warm woolen blanket. NO ICY ROADS, right? Deal....?

Eh. I'll be counting the days until spring, just as soon as December 21 arrives.