The Spirit of the Woods (last week’s post)

I cannot even explain how deeply my soul feel the winter when we finally get it here. The Deep South isn’t known for long winter days, or even short winter days really. Once in a while though we see some snow, short-lived as it is. And sometimes, sometimes, there is a real good afternoon of large, soft flakes that seem to be never-ending.

That is today. It’s only been a couple of hours, but the pasture is holding at least 2 inches of soft winter goodness and to say I’m thrilled is a huge understatement

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My soul needs these days.

My spirit craves these moments like nothing else. In the winter, there is a stillness, a deep peacefulness that you simply cannot get any other time of the year. The woods are quiet and still. The squirrels are tucked away in their nests, the goats are in their barn, the chickens are roosting in their coop away from the snowfall.

The children all headed out before the snow even began sticking to the ground. They crave it too, in their own way. They ran around the yard trying to catch the falling flakes in their hands. Finally there was enough snow staying on the ground and other surfaces that they could push up small handfuls, claiming proudly they finally created snowballs. As they played, I threw my shawl around my shoulders and wandered off…behind the pasture, thru the gate, and off into the woods.

I could have spent the rest of the afternoon out there among the cedars and the wild grasses, heavy with their snowy blankets. The silence was beautiful. I’m pretty sure it was a long time before I let my breath out and just enjoyed it all.

I only wish this beauty would last. It’s such a special feeling to just be in the middle of nature, surrounded by all the peacefulness. I wish there was a way to capture it and hold it in my memory forever. Hold it close in my spirit so I can stay in this sense of calm forever.

But this is the Deep South…and snow doesn’t last. Days like these are all too fleeting, too soon just a fading memory…