Silent Snowall

all pics my own

The time has changed.

The promise of spring hangs in the air.  

 But before all of that...

there was winter. 

And snow.  

And the quiet that comes with it.

Seasons

from here.

I read the other day that the Chinese have five seasons.  Aside from the regular four, they also count the end of summer as it's very own season.  That suits me just fine, being that the transition from late summer to early fall is my favorite time of the year. 

I wax poetic about it annually, citing the way the light changes and the dip in the temperature that makes wearing a hoodie the norm again.  Late summer seems to have caught us by surprise here in the mountains this year.  The local weather channel reported that there has only been one weekend without rain in our area since April!  I haven't been swimming, nor have I even donned a bathing suit this year.  And I can hardly even remember what the beach looks or feels like.  I haven't seen the ocean in almost five years. 

The last few years of my life have been a mess.  The world seems to be just like this summers weather; dreary with little chance of sunshine.  But I know that's just the pessimist in me talking.  I know the transition is coming.  I know there will be sunshine and beach trips and hopes and dreams fulfilled.  I know there is good in this life.  And so, I will keep trying.  I will soak up any late summer sun that is left.  I will smile at the cool breezes and the turning leaves.  And just like China, I will count this time of year as a season in itself.  Just like nature, I will consider it an invitation to turn inward for the coming winter and cultivate my soul for the time when it will bloom again. 

~

Soul Sharing

I've been thinking, lately, about fall and why I seem to love it so much.

For someone who shivers her way through the colder half of the year, it would seem unfitting that I adore autumn. But I do. And more specifically, I adore the pivotal moment where late summer melds into fall.

So, while driving down the road the other day {windows still down, warm breeze kissing my cheek} I noticed the first few golden leaves along the roadside and it hit me. I love this time of year because it feels like a big, deep, relaxing sigh. On one side of the road was summer; all twisted vines, thriving weeds, hot and sticky and fighting for space. On the other side of the road was fall; spacious branches, babbling streams, open skies and leaves that had finally finished their duty and were able to just let go.

I have always loved this time of year. There is something that feels right about it for me. Everything feels like less of a fight. Traffic slows down a bit. Hair and makeup are much easier to maintain. Fewer schedule demands. More time at home. And, for some reason, I feel more creative and introspective. Don't get me wrong, my cold blooded body loves the heat of summer. But my heart and my soul will always feel at home in the fall.


*photo from Dress, Design, Decor

Greener Grass

Do you ever find yourself contradicting the natural way of things? I have noticed that I tend to do it a lot. One of the most noticeable places that I do this is in fashion and beauty.


It's not even really summer here yet, and my brain is longing for things that feel like fall. Let me explain. Last week I painted my nails a gorgeous deep aubergine color. Very fall. And I loved it. It was so beautiful. I very, very rarely even paint my nails, but now I am going to have to actually resist the urge to keep them aubergine all summer. I just planted lots of new plants today in my flower beds. Marigolds, coleus, dusty miller. All late summer/early fall showstoppers. I passed on the pansies, petunias and begonias. Classic summer flowers. When I should be wearing corals, pinks, turquoise and pastels.... I am drawn to dark purples, indigo, forest green and gold. And I have been regularly spraying on my Burberry perfume, which is a distinctive cold weather scent. Very cozy and sensual smelling.

The crazy thing? When fall and winter rolls around, I will break out my bright colors. I always do. I will once again gravitate towards things that feel like summer. Gap Grass perfume. Bright pink lip gloss. Sunny make-up palettes.


It's not that I am wishing my seasons away. Lord knows I hate cold weather. But it does seem that my brain has been hardwired backwards when it comes to seasonal choices. Indeed, I realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the calendar. But maybe the green will be a grassier shade when I get there.

*photo from Everything Fabulous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn here in the States and I am having some serious seasonal denial. I think that most everyone would agree that this summer just didn't seem to last as long as it should have. I feel like I didn't even get time to enjoy it. Now there are the end of summer chores to do. I have been successfully putting them off for weeks now. Cleaning the windows. Bringing the sweaters out and packing away the tanks. Hand washing all my swimsuits before storing them away, too. It just doesn't seem right; cold weather being right on our heels.

But I'm trying to keep my head up and stay productive (despite the gloomy, sleep inducing weather). I'm still toiling away at getting organized and simplified. The closet above makes me giddy. I love organization and this closet makes it look so easy and so fabulous. This is my dream closet. A place for everything and everything in its place. Plenty of light. Open and airy. I can just see locking myself in my closet to read new magazines! One can dream, right?

* photo from House Beautiful