As usual, heading toward the New Year, I was thinking of the resolutions I’d write up for the coming new year. And then I remembered, I had written last year’s resolutions on paper. I quickly re-read the notes. Alas, I didn’t carry through on even half the things I jotted down.
This year, I thought, instead of making resolutions I don’t keep, perhaps I could write what I’m grateful for. Today, I’m wearing my favorite old, worn sweater. I only get this sweater out to wear when winter arrives. Why not write about a season of gratitude of all I’m grateful for in the winter season, especially in Pennsylvania with its beautiful seasons. Thus, my seasons of gratitude.
Winter: It’s not just my old, woolly winter sweater that I’m grateful for, but I love flannel pajamas next to my skin. When walking around the house in the evenings, I wear what I call a bathrobe, with an enclosed bottom, where only my feet stick out. I love sinking my feet in fleece-lined bed slippers, the high kind that snuggle my feet. I’m always ready to place the down blanket on our bed; the minute I slide under the covers, I can just feel the down, as if breathing its warmth upon me.
I even bought a small electric radiator for my study. When I was a kid, I’d place a blanket on the radiator, in the kitchen, and lay on top of it to read. Today, on particular blizzard days outside, I place my radiator next to my chair while I write. It’s just a soothing farm memory for me.
There are certain foods that go with each season, especially the Pennsylvania Dutch pig stomach, which Mom stuffed with chestnut filling. My husband and I love pork and kraut.
I know it’s a New Year’s tradition, but I make it often during the winter season. I may not roast them over an open fire, but each winter, I have to eat some chestnuts. Closer to New Year, I enjoy a good homemade eggnog. It does bother me about using raw eggs, but if someone else makes the concoction, I’m game.
I do like the snow, even if I complain at times. I just wish it knew enough to stay off the roads. I do exercise at the Y, but I still try to get two days of walking in the crunchy snow, if it’s not icy.
Inside our home, there’s something calming about sitting next to the living room picture window and watching it snow, snow, snow. When its dark outside, there’s something magical watching snowflakes stream down from the lamppost in front of the house.
I often watch the bird feeders from my kitchen window. Sometimes, it seems, the male gets to eat first while the female sits longingly in the bush waiting. Often they chatter, in a menacing manner, when many come to eat at one time. The squirrels try their best to get at the seeds, but they never succeed.
And there is always the joy of a Christmas gathering with family. My husband and I, over the years, have shared our families with each other. My family gathering is on a Sunday a week or two before Christmas. We’ve finally gotten the children to believe we have enough “stuff.” We only want their presence. Harry’s sister usually had his family after the holidays, but now my family and his family have their own additions, so it’s harder to get everyone together. Harry and I are usually alone Christmas Eve. We open our gifts after our church service. Each year we think we don’t need “stuff” yet we still buy from the list we give each other. Since I’m the youngest in my family and think “I never had anything” my husband insists I need at least five gifts. Well, okay, this time, I say.
I am grateful for the winter season!
Spring: I’m always ready and grateful for the next season, spring. Everything is bursting forth from plants and flowers pushing their way through half-thawed ground, to buds appearing in trees. Like the bear in hibernation, I’m ready to shed my winter clothes. Yet, I’m hesitant about getting spring clothes “back on the rack” too early in the season. I still wear my old sweater around the house, well into spring. I have a hard time even looking at someone with short sleeves on; it makes me shiver.
At our home, it doesn’t seem like spring until I see a robin in our backyard. If my husband is nearby, I’ll call, “Harry, hurry! Come see the robin before it flies away.” Finally, it’s spring!
I think I could lay in my bed for hours, as long as I hear the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof. I much prefer a tin roof, but my husband refuses to tear down our good roof. Like winter snow, I too, love watching rainstorms from the living room picture window. Sometimes it swooshes down loud and hard against the pane; other times it calms itself, sounding like tired little pin drops hitting the pane.
Actually, I’m ready to do some house cleaning too, things I left hibernate through the winter. There’s no rush. One room is done each week, and within two months I’ve finished. I’ve based our home decor on our lives, my husband as a school teacher and me as farm girl. Each room has mementoes of our past and things we purchased since our marriage based on our past, such as one-room school pictures, an artist’s painting of our birth homes, an antique school desk, family mementoes and hand-crafted items. Spring cleaning brings back those cherished memories.
Around Easter time, it’s time for the Pennsylvania Dutch ham and dandelion meal. And, of course, those large rectangular fastnachts (doughnuts) smeared on top with molasses or powdered sugar.
I’m grateful for the spring season!
Summer: And then I’m grateful for summers. As we become older, we prefer short weekend getaways. It’s great to get away, but oh, how good it feels to be back again in our home!
None of my neighbor’s have garden plots in the back of their houses, including me. But, this is the time of year we love shopping at the farmer’s market when fruits and vegetables are in season, such as canteloupe, watermelon, strawberries, sweet corn and more.
Sometimes my husband and I take a long walk in Cedar Beach Park nearby. I enjoy these walks, especially if the grass has just been mowed. I’ve loved the smell of grass since I was a kid on the farm. It’s great to live in town and still be near a park with lots of trees. It’s beautiful when the apple trees, surrounding the park, are in bloom.
My husband and I also enjoy attending ethnic festivals, tasting their foods and getting to know how others celebrate their rich heritage. It’s nice, we’re all unique in some way.
Just two years ago, we built a front porch on the house. On it is a table, plus four chairs; two of them are rocking chairs. Most people have decks out back, but we chose a porch out front. We have the privacy of a low rail; no one can see us, but we can see them walk by. We sit outside almost every weekend evening, even in a rain shower. I’m grateful I have my husband to sit with for our “porch chats” and to grow old with.
I am grateful for the summer season!
Fall: I love the autumn walks through our neighborhood of tree-lined streets and in the park nearby. Fall colors have a way of lifting one’s spirit. What a spectacular show these leaves give us, before they die.
My birthday falls on the first of October. Nowadays, my birthday gathering is held at the club, with my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I do treasure our time together.
I so much enjoy dressing up for Halloween. When most of my sisters were still living, we had our traditional birthday parties. For my birthday, I insisted they had to “dress up” for Halloween. Nowadays, since we get together for Red Hat Dutchie group, the last week in October, I still dress up for Halloween. It’s fun. And it’s not something I plan to outgrow no matter how old I am. Halloween is a great time for laughter.
I may not like the kitchen, but I do enjoy making our Thanksgiving meal. I still insist on both pumpkin and mince pie at the meal, while my husband enjoys onions and peas. It’s funny, how childhood food memories evoke a nostalgia we don’t want to forget.
I am grateful for the fall season!
Isn’t it great, to have something in each season to be grateful for. What are you grateful for?
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to everyday stories.
