I haven’t posted in a while… we bought a house!  And moved!  And I started a new job!!  Holy Crap!  It’s been bananas, but we are finally starting to get settled in.  🙂  Thanks for bearing with me.  Now that we are past the move, we find the seasons changing.  Just like in my favorite show, Game of Thrones, “Winter is Coming” in the high country!!  I’m excited because winter is one of my favorite seasons.  We’ve already had 3 days of snow here.  Stoke is high amongst the locals, as ski resorts are opening and it’s barely November.  A lot of people don’t understand how I can live in the mountains in the winter.  It’s true that it gets cold here. Really cold.  Last winter, we regularly saw sub-zero temps.  But truthfully, winter is one of my favorite seasons.   So what do I love so much about winter?

My favorite thing in the world is curling up by a fire with a cup of hot cocoa.  Cool weather gives you a deeper appreciation of warmth that comes from a hot drink and a cozy house.  Showers seem hotter, cars warmer and blankets toastier when you’ve been out in the cold all day!

I love seeing my breath freeze in the air, bundling up in my favorite puffy and scarf and walking down the snow-covered street.  Ok… really I love winter clothes.  A lot.  I have about a hundred pairs of boots and beanies at this point.  Let’s not even get started on jackets…  I love the toasty feeling of a warm fleece or puffy.  Soft, squishy, warm boots are the best.  It’s just comfortable!

Above all else, snow is what makes winter awesome.  I never get tired of watching it fall from the sky.  Snowflakes are so beautiful, in millions of different shapes and sizes, yet are so fleeting in this world.  They peacefully mute ambient sound when they come down and it shrinks the whole world to your personal snow globe.  Tracks of moose, deer and rabbits abound in freshly fallen white and animals are usually easier to spot.  Snow is also stunning on a bigger scale.  From the first light glinting off the snow on the mountain peaks, to evergreens frosted in a fresh coat of white, snow adds beauty to everything!

Snow leads to the most exciting part of winter… skiing!  There’s nothing like blazing down the slopes on a sunny day, or floating in fresh powder on a stormy one.  I’m not the best skier, but I have so much fun.  Skiing allows me to challenge myself and learn new skills every day I’m on the hill.  Bonus:  There’s also nothing better than taking off your ski boots at the end of a long, tiring day and enjoying a soak in a hot tub!  If skiing isn’t your thing, there’s always snowshoeing.  It’s just walking with big things on your feet, but it allows you to enjoy your amazing surroundings and explore in the snow.  Even better, Cross-country skiing allows you to get some speed and glide faster than you can walk.  Of course, it seems like I always spend a lot of time falling down on my X-C skis, but I still have fun!

Winter food is just good.  Winter foods are hearty, warm and usually come in one bowl.  Nothing warms your belly up like a hot bowl of chili during a mid-day break from playing outside.  Then there’s the big, bacon-filled breakfast to power up for a long day of hard skiing.

Winter holidays are the best.  They are festive and cheery.  Let’s be real – Christmas is my favorite holiday.  I love the lights that adorn trees and homes.  And the snow.  And all the traditions, cheer and smiles.  I love that it’s a season focused on giving to others.  And of course, all the delicious holiday food that only comes around once a year doesn’t hurt either!!

Yes, sometimes my hands get cold.  But I still love winter.  If you plan to stay warm and you wear the right things, winter is a great time to get out, play and enjoy the natural world in its alternate, frozen state.  In most places, winter is fleeting.  Here, it lasts a good six months, which just gives me more time to enjoy my favorite season.  Winter IS coming here in Colorado and I can’t wait!!