Publisher’s Note
The vibrant colors on the cover evoke the changing seasons to me. At the base of the image, you have autumn hues with mellowed yellows and ambers. Then you move into a cooler palette for winter, and finally to gentle shades of violet hinting at the coming spring season, when wood violets pop up all over our forests.
For me, winter always draws me outside to the local trails, even when the temps hit the low teens and the ground makes a crackling sound as my hiking boots hit the frozen tundra. With leaves spread like a fertilizing blanket and the frozen, barren trees covered in a mystical frost, my walks are simply magical. I feel extremely blessed to live where four distinct seasons greet me with all their wonder. The storehouse of memories about each season makes me smile.
Images of my children and grandchildren building their wonky looking (but perfect) snowmen, and their snow angels of different sizes stretching out on the ground like they are holding hands. “Mom, look at my snow angel and can we make snow cream now?” I said, “Of course—just get the white snow!” The time when our teenage twins double-dog-dared their older sibling to run up the driveway in his boxers during a blizzard. I found out about that escapade when he came in frozen and begging for hot cocoa. The carrots we went through one year when they had basically all of February away from school due to heavy snow. The snowmen kept losing their noses—I always wondered if the deer enjoyed those at night.
Snow days have become remote learning days. But my daughter manages her kids’ instructional time so well, they still have ample daylight to play outside and enjoy an occasional “snow day.”
When I asked my kids what memories they have, my older son said, “I loved the blizzards, when we lost power and had no worries except to play in the snow, go to the hill in the back yard and sled for hours, and then go inside to read a good book by the window light or flashlight at night.”
My brother remembered having sword fights with icicles—that I do not recommend at all. He loved snowball fights with me, because he was faster at making a snowball that could literally fly!
CML staff chimed in with stories of snow forts, ice skating and cross-country skiing. They also added all the wonderful memories of being inside by the home fire, doing puzzles, playing board games and rewatching the same fun movies again and again.
Our issue is packed with ideas of where you can create memories for you and your family—inside museums, theatres, art galleries, Linville Caverns, an indoor playhouse, the local YMCA. Take a stroll outdoors and enjoy the winter precipitation, or go skiing or snowboarding, tubing, ice skating or searching for your new favorite trail.
Isn’t that what growing up is all about? Creating memories. What are some of your favorite winter memories as a child? Let us know by emailing cmlbabette@
gmail.com.
Here’s to the Best of the Season – Inside and Out.
~ Babette
Listen to Babette’s recent High Country Radio interview with Mark E. Norris of “Wakin’ Up In The High Country / Mark in the Morning.” Cultural Arts Editor Keith Martin joins in to discuss CML’s article on the 75th anniversary of High Country Radio.