My first snow! At least since moving…I have been snowed in up here before, on vacation. It doesn't look like it'll stick, but it's beautiful coming down. I'm sure I'd feel different if I were still in the city—I think one of the greatest advantages of country life is the chance to appreciate nature on its own merits and in all its forms. Bad weather is an invitation to slow down and stay inside rather than an obstacle to the usual frenzied activity. Of course, it also means getting a little nervous about trees swaying in the wind and too much water running down the hill, so there are tradeoffs. And when the snow is really heavy, like it was 4 years ago, there's always the danger of a touch of cabin fever if you don't have a 4x4 vehicle at your disposal.

I'll still take snow in the trees over rain on the sidewalk any day, though. The hot cocoa's laid in for the winter, soup's in the fridge, and my wool socks are mostly clean. Let winter begin!