A Winter's Walk

Do you dread winter? To be honest, sometimes I do. The cold temperatures, the shovelling, the storms, the treacherous driving. I could go on. Do you know what though? Over the last couple of years, something in me has started changing. My dread is melting into appreciation. My life is quite busy in the spring, summer, and fall. When the snow comes, the busyness subsides. Like nature, I have a few months to hibernate. To slow down, to rest, to dream, to plan for the next season. Winter has become a gift for my family and I. We get to reconnect, explore, sip tea by the fireplace. I love the hustle of the summer and the beauty it brings. But there is something incredibly profound about moving with nature's pace. Of course, there's no pause button in life, but winter is an invitation for me to smell the roses (figuratively of course, as all of our rose bushes are buried in snow!). As I've adopted this slower pace of life ushered in with the snow, I've began to see the beauty of winter in nature. The other morning I woke early and was enjoying a steaming pot of tea. I glanced out our kitchen window and saw one of the most stunning sunrises. It was so simple, but so life giving.

Many of you've experience Prince Edward Island in the summer and fall. It's gorgeous, right?! PEI tends to get a bad rep in the winter months, but let me tell you it's all rubbish. Our Island is a whimsical place even when it's buried in 10 feet of snow! I mean, just look at this view from just behind our restaurant over looking River Clyde. 

A few weeks ago, after a snowfall, our talented graphic designer, Katherine, wandered around The Gardens of Hope captured these stunning winter photos! 

 Maybe you live in a place that never sees snow or maybe you live in a place that sees more snow than you'd care to mention. Whatever your experience, I hope you can embrace the beauty each season graces us with!

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell