Notice how time gets weird in winter? Days feel shorter but months drag on. February rolls around and folks are already dreaming of spring bulbs and garden plans, but outside my window, the snow’s still falling steady as a heartbeat.
This morning I watched a rabbit hop across my backyard, stopping under that lone oak tree – you know the one, standing there all patient and bare like it’s waiting for something important to happen. Made me think about how we’re all just hanging in this in-between time.
Winter’s got this quiet magic that doesn’t follow the retail calendar. Those Valentine’s displays might be crowding the aisles, but nature’s still deep in its December story. The snowman’s still the main character.
I built one last weekend with my nephew. He insisted on using his mom’s pink scarf and hat – said snowmen should be more colorful. Hard to argue with that logic. We stood back after finishing, both of us just watching as the snow kept falling around our creation, adding another layer to its shoulders like a slow, cold baptism.
If you’re looking to make your own memory like this, you might want some proper gear. Those regular cotton gloves won’t cut it after about ten minutes. I finally invested in some waterproof thermal gloves last month, and let me tell you – game changer. Your fingers will thank you.
For the snowman accessories, nothing beats a good sturdy scarf and hat set. Something that won’t blow away with the first gust and can handle getting wet. The synthetic blends hold up better than pure wool, I’ve found.
What gets me about snowmen is how temporary they are. We build them knowing full well they’ll be gone soon. Maybe that’s why I don’t mind seeing them in February – or even March if the weather holds. They remind us that some joy doesn’t need to be permanent to be worthwhile.
The Christmas decorations might be boxed up in the attic, but winter itself isn’t done telling its story. The snow keeps falling, trees stand sentinel with their few remaining leaves, and somewhere out there, a rabbit’s making tracks around a snowman wearing a pink hat.
There’s something about that image I can’t quite put into words – something that feels like peace and waiting all mixed together. Like the quiet after a snowfall when everything is muffled and still.
Maybe that’s what midwinter is really about – not rushing to the next season, but finding the beauty in this one, even when the calendar says we should be moving on.
