gray day

It's a gray day here in Portland.  Looking at the clock: ten a.m. (when I began writing), I know that it is in fact daylight because the sun rose hours ago but it is a bit hard to believe given the level of light is about a 25 watt bulb.  This must be winter.  Grey and rainy with a touch of green grass, green moss, and roses.  

My first month here was pretty much straight sunshine with cool nights and sun-warmed days.  They made for a practically perfect fall.  It appears that winter is here.

The prospect of all this green straight through winter is makes my heart leap a little but the price it comes with is snow.  A few years back I was bah-humbug to snow but then my Arctic Adventure happened and snow crept into my heart.  On gray winter days snow comes and blankets the fields and earth in a magical blanket of pure light.  That may sound a little hokey but seriously, my inner elementary school student let out a little shriek for joy every time I woke up to a new layer of thick fluffy white or even crunchy glass snow.  Snow gives extra lumens to winter and reminds of the beauty of world that can only be experienced when it is here. 

Winter is when we can rest.  Outdoor work is well thought-out in response to shortened daylight and harsh weather.  It is a time where gardens are minimized or put to sleep.  Winter allows us to celebrate holidays with our friends and families.  

Leaves falling accentuate the form of the trees.  Just think, all summer long the trees are covered in the massive wig of leaves.  In winter we can enjoy their silhouettes and admire the framework that holds oh so much life and activity all spring and summer long.

 Vacant of leaves the moss and ferns have their time in the sun.

After a grand exit, the deciduous trees finally let the conifers steal the show.  Mt. Scott Park was a brilliant example on an afternoon walk.

 New needles are pushing out the old ones in the evergreens.  They loose their needles too but the new ones overlap the old and many times they only loose them every two to four years.

 Eclectic landscaping and variety in fences, homes, and lawns in this city keep even the dreary winter walks lively.

As the sun prepares to set in about twenty minutes, the clouds relent a few sunbeams.  They are just to remind us it's still there and to liven up the shadows on the wall.  Welcome to winter.  Slow down.  Make a cup of tea.  Grab a good book and cozy up in a quilt.  One of my favorite combination for dreary gray days is a pot of tea, some crispy toast, a bowl of oatmeal and a viewing of The Secret Garden film.