A Fresh Gust of Winter Wind in August [Thanks to The Wind in the Willows]

When the temperature reaches 80 degrees in the Midwest and the humidity levels spike into the 60-70% range, I start to daydream about drifts of freshly-fallen snow sparkling like diamonds in the pale winter sun. The bitingly cold wind tosses the snow into shimmering sheets and icicles grace the roofs of neighborhood homes with chimneys puffing little clouds of smoke, the delightful glow of a crackling fire not far below. The kids and I trudge through the snow clad in our winter hats, coats, mittens, snow pants, and boots, hoping to find the perfect hill on which to sled.

Oh winter, you can’t come soon enough!

Right now, Samuel and I are reading through “The Wind in the Willows”–the very same copy my mom read to me and my sister as children. We even have these cute little critters to play with during the story:

This quote from the chapter Mr. Badger made me long for winter even more:

“My! it was fine, coming through the snow as the red sun was rising and showing against the black tree trunks! As you went along in the stillness, every now and then masses of snow slid off the branches suddenly with a flop! making you jump and run for cover. Snow castles and snow caverns had sprung up out of nowhere in the night–and snow bridges, terraces, ramparts–I could have stayed and played with them for hours. Here and there great branches had been torn away by the sheer weight of the snow, and robins perched and hopped on them in their perky conceited way just as if they had done it themselves. A ragged string of wild geese passed overhead, high on the grey sky, and a few rooks whirled over the trees, inspected, and flapped off homewards with a disgusted expression.”

When the Midwest weather gets warm and muggy, I must remind myself what Ecclesiastes 3:11 says: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” I can be just as thankful for the summer rain and fragrant flowers as I am for the sparkling snow and cozy fires–even though I happen to mostly like one more than the other. And, I can relish every winter scene from the stories we read during the hot summer months!