01
View from the Valley
Editor’s Note
Every year, my opinion on seasons changes. I am more of a summer/autumn gal. Yet, in middle school, I despised Summer. In high school, I fell in love with Summer again, but I grew to dislike Winter an awful lot. Now, it sort of flip-flops. One year, I am disgusted with Spring–the next, I’m enjoying the sweet scent of Spring flowers, as if the season is my top number one favorite of all time. Sometimes I love Summer–then, other times, I’m already anticipating Halloween and pumpkin spice on the 21st of June. However, as the seasons turn into fast, fading-away years of my youth, I am quickly getting rid of the idea of liking/disliking one season over the other. These days, all the seasons are my favorites. I don’t want to choose which is better than the other anymore–instead, I want to admire every season’s characteristical beauty and live each day with them happily. All the seasons are beautiful. I love the foggy blue-gray skies of Winter. I am enamored by the vibrant colors of autumn leaves. One of my favorite pastimes is driving around during the golden sunset hours of Summer. The happy pastel colors and Easter fun of Spring have always filled me with a nostalgic and renewing sense of joy. The wonderfully beautiful and childlike essence of Spring is something I feel right now–and I hope you feel it, too.
I love the warm(er) weather we've been experiencing; the mid-60s have been amazing. But I am whistling with contentment even when temperatures go up to 95. It has typically been in the upper 40s all the way up to the mid-'50s and, depending on what the sun and wind are doing, has felt amazing. I don't like the cold though. I don't want to layer up just to walk down the drive and get the mail or take out the trash. Living in the country, my kids and I much prefer waking up and heading right outside for adventure; barefoot, jammies, and all. We can't do that in the winter. Spring is coming soon though! Proven by my crocuses, hyacinth, narcissus, daffodils, and hellebores in bloom. (For those with allergies I am so sorry!)
As the age-old saying goes, stop and smell the roses (or, if you’re in Illinois, violets are on the rampage).
I hope you are able to enjoy all the freshness of this season AND in this edition.
Peace! Maggee Bleyer
Read on! Jonathan Leach
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