Falling into Winter is such a short season.  Summer tools are stored away and the winter tools are brought out of storage - leaf blower aka snow blower, shovels, and ice melt for the sidewalks.  Boiler and Toyo stove cleaned and tuned. Wood stove and boiler stacks cleaned along with the dryer vent. Garage door checked for air leaks and adjusted.  Dead leaves shoved into biodegradable bags and the garden harvested and prepped for the Spring.

We all know that it is coming. The nights are colder and the birds are headed south. The cats are now actively seeking out warm laps to rest in or fighting over the best place in front of the Toyo when it is running.  The smalles cat, Niblet is aggressively demanding to get in the bedroom and under the covers next to a warm body where she can put her cold paws against my warm back.  I don't mind the cold paws but her contented drooling leaves a cold wet spot for me to roll into.

I look around and see things that still need to be done before snow arrives. Bikes need to be moved to the greenhouse while I scrounge up all the extension cords.  Plug-ins need to be connected, times set and timers adjusted.  More caulking around windows and insulation installed under the window box. Emergency supplies and cold weather gear still needs to be pulled out and put in the truck, just in case.

More than anything it is as if time is slowing down as Winter approaches and we head into the Long Dark.  Winter, for me, is a time for reflection and recuperation from the schizofrantic activity of Summer.  It is a time for gratitude in all the things that keep us warm, food grown and stored.  It is a time for planning new adventures, digging out the snowshoes and moving summer clothes out of the way for winter clothes.  It is a time for planning to find all the activities that keep cbain fever at bay.  A time for planning lat night drives out of town to watch the aurora dance seductively overhead knowing that we can always sleep later.

Winter. That slow time between the frenzy of Fall and Summer.