Glad Sad

The weather in the upper Midwest teased us with temperatures well above average for this time of year. T-shirts and shorts stayed in the wardrobe rotation cycle as we ignored the date on the calendar. Then, a cold front from our friends in Canada helped right the ship and we are now experiencing more familiar weather for December. There is a gladness and sadness about our slide into winter.

I am glad to feel the brisk coolness on my face when I leave the house each day. Air that hasn't been steamed up with high humidity and smoldering temperatures has a freshness about it and I am always energized by breathing it in. That being said, when and if temperatures dip below zero, the briskness turns to burning frigidity and my skin and lungs are always sad about that. Double digit temps are winter's sweet spot.

I am sad to see my garden give up the last of its bounty. It was a good run this year with the mild fall weather. We only recently dug up the last of our carrots. Going forward, we will miss our tomatoes oozing their juiciness onto our plates. No more fresh cucumbers adding snap and crunch to our side dishes. No more bright green beans sharing their joy with us and a few naughty rabbits. And saddest of all, no more fresh herbs adding sprinkles of color and flavor to our meals. Dried herbs will have to suffice until next June.

I am glad to gaze upon the varieties of recently harvested apples in the supermarket. A quick squeeze indicates their freshness. Yes, I am sad to give up summer fruits such as melons and berries but names like Honeycrisp, Gala, Ambrosia and Golden Delicious perk me up with their promises of deliciousness. Apple pies, apple crisps, apple bread pudding and applesauce are always better with fresh ingredients and count toward our fruit requirements, says this dietician. Apples and their best friends, the oranges, also help get us upper Midwesterners through the winter months and prevent scurvy. Win-win in my book.

I am glad for cozy. Cold weather and fewer daylight hours can send us into a state of sad torpor if we aren't proactively embracing the seasonal changes. Hygge is a Norwegian word for coziness and may have originated from the word hug. Winter hugs come from the fragrance of a tater tot hotdish in the oven and a pan of freshly baked bars. Sweaters hug our necks and fleece-lined slippers ensconce our tootsies with warmth. Fireplaces emit toasty conversations punctuated by snaps and pops to keep us entertained. Lap blankets keep winter's drafts at bay and are the perfect accompaniment for a hot cup of coffee and a good book. I say, bring on the hygge.

Most of all, I am glad for seasons. The hot languid days of summer roll onto the crunchy leaves of fall which become covered in winter's snow icing and finally melts into running streams of spring. Celebrate each one and love your favorite.

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