Elissa,

Sheesh - you are so right on! Who says when the sun goes down our adventuring stops?

Its funny, some of my BEST memories from when I was a kid were centered around the blank white snow, and all the different creatures and games and silliness that me and my sisters and brother could make from it. Like a blank canvas - I think the blank white snow is calling for some creative art making and play again.

I was surprised to discover that after dark is my favorite winter time! Good thing, I suppose, since that's mostly what we get. You know I am an inveterate porch sitter, and that includes winter nights. I spend at least 10 minutes on the porch every day. I think I have such good memories from the holidays as a kid. At midnight on Christmas eve we would open the door to let Baby Jesus into the house to bless us, and on New Years Eve at midnight we would escort the old year out and invite the new year in. I still find myself opening the door to the cold on both those nights. There was also a rumor circulating that animals can speak at midnight on one of those nights, but I never remember which one, nor do I know what time zone. So far, all my pets have held their peace.

If there was fresh snow, each of those midnight holiday events could be accompanied by a shaken up bottle of root beer or cream soda that would be sprinkled on the snow to make "ice cream." And how often we enjoyed them dancing around in our stocking feet in the snow!

I like to sit on my porch and notice how the sound is different in the winter, how it changes with the temperature. I love to watch snow fall in the street lights turn my street into a snow globe, or to blow bubbles when it's sub-zero. I like to take walks at night bundled up and hear the crunch, or notice how the cold air feels in my nose -- below zero makes your nostrils stick together!

Since I am mostly home at night, that's when I make snowmen, or snow cats to sit on my porch railing, or put a hot drink in a thermal cup and wrap up in a polar fleece blankie.

I do tend to think that errands need to be finished before dark, and am disinclined to leave home to socialize once night falls, but you will find me on my porch except when weather is blowing straight in. That's a good time for being inside.

You know one of my favorite winter time fun activities? Full moon snowshoeing. It's magical--dark and light, the snow turns blue, and the silence is like a blanket across the landscape. Throw in a few snow angels and you've got quite a party!

Wow, I never knew that BE Winter!. That's pretty interesting...