The More Things Change . . .

One of the things I most look forward to when the seasons change is the kind of cooking I do.  Right now I’m a bit tired of burgers, cold salads and ice cream. So last night we had a great Crockpot – um, slow cooker – beef stew for supper. I’d put the whole deal together at about 10:00 a.m. and let it simmer all day. House smelled great. Oddly enough, a few months ago it was a smell I’d had enough of, but that was at the end of spring when the delights of the garden began to entice. Velvety red tomatoes are what I craved and looked forward to.

Aren't we humans funny that way? Just when we’re sick of one thing another comes along. And it doesn't seem to matter if that other thing is an old familiar something. We just want a change – for now. This brings to mind other seasonal changes and let’s see if you agree on how this works.

Spring – I've just about had it with sweatshirts and a shut up house. Summer is in all the catalogs and stores and I can’t wait to buy new flip flops and a neon green bikini. Whoa – back up. No bikini for me, but you get the idea. I don’t really like flip flops either. Anyway, a few wardrobe changes help usher in every new season. That and the schematic of the garden hubby is layout our. Oh, and a red, red robin or two. 

Summer – Fresh mowed lawns, thrilling dives into the cool lake and hot dogs on the grill. Corn at the farm stand and boatloads of flowers to plant by the back door. Cleaning 21 windows so I can throw them open and let the mosquitoes in . . . wait, wait. Bugs have no business in my house during the lazy, hazy days. Sigh. Sure glad I bought that electric tennis racket thingy to zap them with. That sucker really Pops! Bye, bye skeeters.

Fall – Probably my favorite season as long as the days are sunny and the nights are cool. Not too fond of Edgar Allen Poe fog and damp mist and I don’t want it so cool that we need to turn on the heat before we can afford a tank of oil. But, what am I thinking? Hubby starts chopping wood at the beginning of September and we can snuggle our way through the winter when the old wood burning feature on the furnace puffs out the heat. Come to think of it, that dad in A Christmas Story’s got nothing on Mr. Sundwall Sr. Dagnabrottenstinkingold . . . again – you get the idea. We really, really need a new furnace.  

Winter – No season is without its charms and winter, at least at the beginning, has the thrill of the holidays going for it. By mid-November I’m in full baking grandma mode and I dearly love it. If there’s a snowy day or two before Jesus’ birthday it simply makes me smile. After that I’m looking at neon green bikinis again. Sort of. 

Life is change after change after change and somehow it stays the same. A happy cycle that keeps us interested in life. What does each season bring to your world?