The Haven

I'm not one for setting resolutions.  I have nothing against them mind you, but if I really want to do something I do it no matter what time of year it is.  Also, I think by making this list of new resolutions and "wiping the slate clean", we're missing out on something.  You don't really want to erase every aspect of this year, so instead I offer you a new way to look at the New Year.  Some of you may already do this. Every New Year's Eve I burn candles with intent.  My bayberry candle gets burned on Christmas Eve as it's tradition in my family.  Instead, I burn a white 7-day candle to clear out any negativity (white for purity) and I get a few small tapers representing the things I'd like to invite into my home this year.  Usually it's blue for health, orange (or yellow) for happiness, and green for abundance.  Health, wealth, and happiness...a time honored toast for the New Year.  But use whatever you want or need.  You know the d...

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas yesterday!  All the presents have been opened and the ensuing mess has been picked up.  Today is for relaxing with a nice big cup of cocoa and playing with your presents.  Enjoy the rest of your day as we look forward to the New Year! By the way...all the holiday greenery and floral arrangements are SERIOUSLY discounted today at Publix (if you have one).  I got a huge bunch of greenery today for $2!  I ran out of coffee so I had to go to the store. ~ Heathen

From Better Homes & Gardens I may not be around much for the rest of this week.  Busy with last minute preparations and all.  I'll be popping in to read everyone's posts but I may not be leaving comments or writing my own posts.  So just in case, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Yule and Merry Christmas!  Enjoy the lunar eclipse tonight if you're lucky enough to see it.  I don't know if I'll be able to stay up that late...work starts pretty early. Happy Holidays! ~ Heathen

That's right it's crunch time, only one week left!  This time next week we'll be in the thick of it so, if you aren't done and ready (and I know I'm not), here's what to do this week... Shopping List- If you buy your gifts, get them now.  If you make your gifts and still have some to go, get those remaining supplies you need.  This will give you time to wrap them and you don't want to get to the store only to find the item you wanted is gone for the season!  Don't forget, make sure you have all the food, paper goods, and wrapping supplies you're going to need. Decorating -  Take a good look around, make sure you put out all the decorations you wanted to, and put the boxes/bins away.  That's it, no more this year.  Step away from the Christmas bin! Baking - Okay, I don't do this part beyond Toll House cookies.  But if you do, the time is now.  If your family has a tendency to eat all the Christmas goodies BEFORE Christmas (like mine do...

I know Yule and the Winter Solstice is still a week away, but winter has definitely arrived here.  It is NOT supposed to feel like 25 degrees (F) in Florida!  And I'm not talking about north Florida either!  Although, I have to admit that it does help with getting into the Holiday spirit.  However, we are not equipped for this kind of cold.  I mean, how many warm sweaters and coats do you think we have lying around here in the land of the sun?  I know, I know, I can already hear some of you laughing.  But when your average mean temperature is around 80 degrees, this is a bit extreme.  If the clouds would just line up right we could even get snow!  Not that it would stick to anything, but it would be pretty to see for Christmas. ~ Heathen

The Holidays mean something different to each of us.  Whether you celebrate Yule, Christmas, both, or something else entirely.  To that end, I'd like to share a few of my favorite things about the Holiday Season. Candy canes, greenery, pomanders, and twinkly lights... Stockings, Christmas trees, bayberry candles, and mistletoe! All these symbols have meaning and work well for either Yule or Christmas!  Enjoy the holiday season! ~ Heathen

This year we will have the Full Cold Moon or Full Long Nights Moon on December 21st, for Yule and the Solstice.  Not only that but there will also be a total lunar eclipse on the 20th, just hours before winter officially begins.  According to the article at space.com , those of us in the states will be able to witness the eclipse either during the middle of the night or in the predawn hours, depending on your location.  The last time these three events happened at the same time was in 1638! I had a bit of a struggle finding additional info on this topic.  However, there's a very informative, and thought inspiring article about this over at Llewellyn.com for more.  I don't want any issues with copying someone's work, so head on over there and give it a read! ~ Heathen

Here's the list of holiday movies in my Netflix queue for the season: A Christmas Carol (Disney animated) Christmas with the Kranks The Year Without a Santa Claus Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Jack Frost (animated) Frosty's Winter Wonderland / 'Twas the Night Before Christmas A Charlie Brown Christmas Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Santa Claus is Comin' to Town Christmas Unwrapped (History Channel documentary) Fred Claus Four Christmases The Santa Claus (1, 2, & 3) Deck the Halls Scrooged Miracle on 34th Street The Polar Express Love Actually Bad Santa The Holiday It's a Wonderful Life National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Surviving Christmas Hope you're all enjoying the holiday season! ~ Heathen

I know, the red cups have been out for a while now.  But there's just something about them!  The minute you see one it feels like the Holidays and you start having visions of sugar plums dancing in your head.  You can almost taste the gingerbread or peppermint (the caramel is a bit too sweet for me).  Even if you aren't a fan, you know what it means when you start seeing the tell-tale red coffee cups.  Personally, we buy Starbucks coffee to make at home, but the flavored drinks...well that's a bit tricky.  I don't even bother trying to replicate them at home anymore.  Besides, even if you get the taste right, it's just not the same without that red cup! ~ Heathen

Image found at Remodeling My Space here . The magical time of year is upon us again.  Life in Florida means no snow, not even flurries, but we still get that tingly and sparkly feeling.  Especially when the decorations start to be seen around town on the streetlights, the red cups come out at Starbucks (there's just something about those silly cups), and let's not forget the holiday music, movies and specials.  While we may not get to go sledding or build snowmen we still get into the holiday spirit.  The decorations have been brought out and the tree is up.  Planning for the holiday meal is in progress.  And there are even a few gifts under the tree already!  The holiday music playlist is ready and the movies have all been queued. This is the time of year when we feel closest to our spiritual path, whatever that may be.  It's a time for twinkling lights, jingling bells, flickering candles, scents of home and the warm feelings that come with ...

"For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see..." excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. ~ Heathen

I'm curious to know what your plans are for this Thanksgiving.  We all "celebrate" differently but most of us have annual traditions that we stick with.  What are your traditions? This Thanksgiving I'll be taking most of the week of from my day job, something I don't usually do.  On Thanksgiving day I'll be dragging out the Holiday decorations, and putting up the tree as usual.  We don't typically do the whole big dinner thing, there just aren't enough people in one place to eat that much food.  We've tried it a couple times, but it's just too much.  Too much food and too much stress, what with me making a mess of the house by emptying all the bins and boxes marked "Christmas".  If it's cold out I usually just cook a big pot of chili and leave it on the stove so food is ready whenever we want to eat.  If it's not (I live in Florida remember) then I like to get some turkey from the deli for sandwiches.  Of course if I get tur...

While visiting my favorite blogs, I realized today that I have not done a post about the things I'm thankful for.  Since Thanksgiving is almost upon us, I guess I'd better do that before I run out of time.  So here are a few things I'm thankful for this year: My job.  While it doesn't leave much free time to do the things I love, it usually pays the bills and there are far too many people without one right now. My family.  Sure they make me crazy some times, but they're always there for me when I need them.  And let's be honest, I love them. My hobbies.  Like most of you, I love doing something creative and I'm thankful I have the opportunity to be creative in my free time. My friends, both old and new.  In addition to the life-long friends I have, I've met so many new and wonderful friends here in blogland. Okay, I know my thankful list is a bit generic but it's honest.  These are the things I'm most thankful for.  Maybe tomorrow I'll...

So yesterday I spent a couple hours wandering the aisles of my local Michael's store and the Holidays have definitely arrived!  I could have easily maxed out the credit card on all the wonderful things they have, but I was good.  Instead I just picked up a few Holiday craft supplies and of course a lot of inspiration!  For the next month I'll be spending my weekends and most of my free time crafting and decorating...and I'm so excited!  I didn't think I was ready for it, but after wandering through a veritable winter wonderland listening to Christmas music I realize I'm more than ready to get things started.  The decorations won't go up until Thanksgiving weekend, but the crafting has already begun.  I should have some pics for you in a couple of days. Until then, head on over to your local craft store and soak up some good Holiday cheer!  Hope you're having a great weekend! ~ Heathen

Today in the states we honor our soldiers, both past and present, for serving our country in times of war and in times of peace.  Like most of us here, I have several veterans in my family.  So for my post today I would simply like to say Thank You; not just to the veterans in my family, but to all the veterans out there. ~ Heathen

Before I settle in for the night I like to "put the house to bed".  Let me explain.  Prior to actually going to bed for the night I like to have some time to settle in and relax, usually in front of the TV since that requires minimal brain power.  But before that, I like to get my house in order; make sure the kitchen is clean, put away anything I dragged out during the evening, basically put things back in their proper place.  I call this putting the house to bed.  By doing this, the house feels calmer and more peaceful and therefore I can relax and feel calm. Now, because this is the real world, I don't live alone, and we all keep different hours, this doesn't always happen.  Let's face it, sometimes life just gets in the way and life is more important than an orderly house.  I refuse to stay up late to do "chores".  But there is something almost meditative about the simple routine act of putting things in order each night.  I'm not talki...

I do so love the quiet time.  This weekend the October decorations will come down and I can curl up a bit before the crazy days of the Holiday season.  For me this time of year is: Sweaters and boots Hot chocolate and flavored coffee Hearty meals and spicy deserts Curling up with a good book or movie Cloudy days and cool nights Candle light and a blanket on the porch A general sense of peace and calm It doesn't last long since the Christmas decorations go up on Thanksgiving weekend, but I always looks forward to it and enjoy it as much as possible! ~ Heathen

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain! ~ Heathen

To dress up or not to dress up; that is the question I struggle with every year.  As you all know by now, I LOVE Halloween.  But since I'm too old to go Trick or Treating, and I don't usually have a party or costume event to go to, I'm never sure how to answer this question.  Do I dress up to hand out candy?  Full costume or just a witchy hat or vampire teeth?  Maybe just a cool Halloween t-shirt?  I honestly have no idea!  Though I'm quickly running out of time so most likely dressing up in full costume is out this year. However, if I did have time to come up with a full costume I would have a full-on Masquerade Ball costume.  I just love everything about this theme, it's all so wonderfully over the top and decadent! ~ Heathen

Samhain, also know as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, and the Witch's New Year is the last of the harvest festivals and a time of dark mysteries. It's a time for new beginnings, reflection, and honoring the dead. In the tarot, the Death card represents change; an end to something which has served its purpose. While not all changes seem good in the moment, change is necessary in all things. This season is the beginning of the end of the Wheel of the Year. After Halloween we change our clocks back, bringing more of the dark to our days, and prepare for Winter. As anyone who lives in colder climates knows, Winter is the dead season when the landscape is bleak. All the plants and animals, even the Sun, go into hiding and wait to be renewed come Spring. This is the quiet time. On Halloween we carve and light Jack o' Lanterns as both protection for ourselves and guidance for the dead. We dress in costume in order to blend in with or ward off the roaming spirits. And we hand out f...

What do you get when you drop a pumpkin? Squash! ~ Heathen

It's October, the time of year to watch scary and Halloween type movies every chance you get right?  I know this, it is in fact my usual tradition.  However, instead of watching said movies I find myself obsessively re-watching the Charmed series!  I freely admit to loving this show, but why now during this spookiest of months?  I have every intention of popping in an appropriate October movie every night and yet...I can't stop watching this show!  "Just one more episode and then I'll watch a movie" I keep saying.  But do you think I ever get around to that movie?  Of course not, I'm obsessed.  And it's not like I haven't already seen the whole series, so again I ask you...why now?  I know it's magic and witches and the like, but still.  So I'm off to watch yet another episode of Charmed.  We've just finished season 4 and are about to start season 5, and I just can't get enough! ~ Heathen

Madness takes its toll, please have exact change. Happy Monday all! ~ Heathen

October is the perfect time to relate myths and superstitions.  Here are some of the ghoul superstitions I found: If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, there's a ghost nearby. In North America, a black cat crossing your path is bad luck; a white one is good luck.  In Britain and Ireland, it's exactly the opposite. Ring a bell on Halloween to scare evil spirits away. If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you. To prevent ghosts from coming in the house on Halloween, bury animal bones or a picture of an animal near the doorway. Knocking on wood keeps evil away. Before sunset on Halloween, walking around your home three times, backwards, counterclockwise, wards off evil spirits. A person born on Halloween can see and talk to spirits. I can't vouch for the truth of any of these, but I thought they were a fun thing to share! ~ Heathen

This past week we watched some werewolf movies in honor of Halloween: Skinwalkers Cursed American Werewolf in London Here are a few others that I like but haven't gotten around to watching yet this season: The Wolf Man (1941) The Underworld Trilogy Dog Soldiers The Ginger Snaps Trilogy What are some of your favorite werewolf movies? ~ Heathen

A little creepy Halloween spirit for you... ~ Heathen

So I thought I'd let you in on which spooky movies I watched this past weekend. The Lost Boys - not really spooky, but it's vampires and I love the movie Spellbinder - Kelly Preston as a witch Book of Blood - Clive Barker's story turned into a movie (medium gore factor here) Unfortunately this is all I got around to watching this weekend.  However, I will be trying to watch at least one spooky/scary/Halloween movie every night throughout the month of October.  I think I'll do a weekly list of what we've watched. In the meantime I have a question/challenge for you my pretties...list your favorite Halloween movies.  Not just scary, but movies that actually have something to do with Halloween.  This is not as easy as it sounds considering the sheer quantity of scary movies out there.  Here's my list... Halloween I and II (original of course) Trick 'r Treat Nightmare Before Christmas The Crow (first one only, anyone who lives near Detroit knows abo...

I'll be putting up a Halloween post later today, but right now one of our fellow bloggers needs all the positive energy and blessings we can send her way.  Danni over at the Whimsical Cottage is having a recurring health issue.  Please drop in and leave her some encouragement  here. Thank you all!

It's almost October and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!  I know this blog is about seasonal living, but around this time of year everything else is completely taken over with thoughts of Halloween.  This weekend (and throughout October) my home will be once again transformed into it's alter ego.  Little vignettes everywhere, spooky ones, macabre ones, gothic ones, even some cute ones.  You never know what might be waiting just around that corner...I can't wait to get started! Not only will my home be transformed, but this blog will also reflect the delightfully creepy month of October.  I mean, if you're gonna have a theme you gotta run with it.  Go big or go home as my honey would say. I didn't think I was going to be able to wait until October to bring out the decorations this year.  But with only one more day to go, and a work day at that, I'm actually going to make it.  And then, the scary movie marathon can officially begin!  H...

Balance is a necessary part of every Seasonal, Magical, and everyday life.  I've come to learn this over the years and I know that sometimes it can be a real struggle.  When thinking about putting some balance in your life consider these three little words...Health, Wealth, and Happiness.  Too much of anything, even the good, is a bad thing. Health as in taking care of your self.  Get some exercise, fresh air, and sunlight.  No need to join a gym or buy a roomful of expensive equipment that, let's face it, you'll probably only use once or twice.  Go for a walk around your local park if the weather is nice enough.  I try to do a form of Tai Chi every day (you can do this indoors or outside).  Not only is it good for my health, but it also calms the mind and you don't need any special equipment or gear.  I also use the Wii to get my butt off the couch.  And eat!  Of course you want to try to eat balanced meals, but do the best you c...

I've spent some time today visiting the attendees of the Practical Magic Blog Party and I'm nowhere near done visiting everyone!  While I didn't participate in this event I adore the movie and the blogs I have visited (so far) are so creative and entertaining.  There have been some truly amazing posts and still so many to see!  I'll continue to peruse the party throughout the weekend but I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed reading all your posts about this fabulous movie. Midnight margaritas anyone?

The Autumn Equinox also known as Mabon is the first day of Fall.  This day is considered a time of mysteries and balance. Day and night are divided equally. It's a time to stop & relax and enjoy the fruits of our own personal harvests. Customs & Activities: preparing for the quiet time ahead finishing old business walking in the woods Colors: red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, gold, violet Decorations: gourds, acorns, colored corn pine cones, grains, vines, dried seeds apples, grapes, pomegranates horn of plenty Foods:  I like to serve a stew with hearty bread and apple crisp. root vegetables; potatoes, carrots, onions breads apples nuts Spellworkings: harmony and balance self confidence security prosperity

Fall is the season to take a look at what you've planned to accomplish this year.  Reap the rewards of your own personal harvest and focus on motivating yourself to finish your remaining business.  Write out a plan, make some magic, whatever you need to do to feel like you can put your goals to rest.  This may mean rethinking your goals and making them more realistic.  It's very easy to bite off more than we can chew when life happens.  Don't get discouraged if you need to do this!  Any step toward your end result is progress!  Think of yourself as a garden where your goals are the plants.  Be proud of anything that's come to fruition this year, finish what you can before winter sets in, and plant some new goals for yourself.  Happy harvesting!

Sometimes it's hard to remember that September is a holiday month.  What with getting the kiddies back to school, the start of football season, and of course we all know Halloween is just around the corner.  But September is a holiday month.  It's the start Fall, the changing of the seasonal guard, and in our excitement for what's to come, we tend to overlook it.  I know I'm not the only one guilty of bypassing September in a blur, almost wishing it away so I can get on with Halloween goodness. So I challenge you all to take a break from your spooky preparations, just for a bit, and celebrate this season.  Take a walk in the woods, visit an orchard or vineyard, donate some old summer goods before just shoving them back in the closet, or write that thank you note you've been meaning to send.  Remember, it is the equinox, a time for balance and harmony.  Tuck in those good summer memories and learn what you can from the bad ones.  Take some time ...

Just last week I was saying how nice the weather was, you could actually feel Summer leaving and Autumn creeping in.  Somewhere between then and now, Summer has found it's way back!  Temperatures are back in the 90's with well over 50% humidity.  Ugh.  Hopefully we'll see some more cool weather here in Florida soon.  We don't get the changing leaves here, so cooler temperatures and lower humidity are the best we can hope for.  I do hope all you northeners are enjoying this beautiful time of year.  Please, post some pics so we southerners can at least feel like we're a part of it too!

Found this image on the web and thought it was perfect for September! This is my favorite part.  I love dragging out the decorations bins each new season to put away the old and bring out the new.  Every year I find something in there I'd forgotten about, it's a little like opening a present!  Yes I have different bins for each season, plus separate ones for Halloween and Yule/Christmas. So on this extended weekend I'll be dragging out the Fall bin (trying desperately to ignore the Halloween ones) and getting my home ready for Autumn.  I'll post some photos once it's done and I'd LOVE to see some of your decorations as well. Happy decorating!

August is over and autumn is almost here.  Even here in sunny Florida there's a subtle change in the wind, and you just know the crisp calm of autumn is right around the corner.  Now that the Autumn month is upon us, it's time to change out some decor to reflect this wonderful season.  Here are a few ideas... Make a corn doll to display Fill a basket/bowl/jar with gourds, small pumpkins, acorns, fall leaves, etc. as a centerpiece. Make a new grapevine wreath Hang dried ears of Indian corn on your front door Don't forget to change out your candles and flower arrangements. I haven't found the right candle yet for this time of year but I'll let you know. More ideas and possibly pictures in the coming weeks as we head toward the Equinox.

Okay, I know it's only Friday and not "technically" the weekend.  But since I'm done with work for the week, it is officially the weekend for me.  With that said, today's post includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday maintenance. For Friday the focus is all about love and happiness.  Al Green anyone?  Seriously now, Friday is ruled by Venus and the corresponding color is pink.  Some scents for today include vanilla, ylang-ylang, cardamom, thyme, or consider using sugar or honey as an ingredient in a simmering potpourri. Saturday is appropriately ruled by Saturn.  The focus is on the home, particularly protection, boundaries, and comfort.  If you use a color candle go with brown and any "earthy" incense works well for today. Finally Sunday which is, of course, ruled by the Sun.  Focus on inviting success and blessings into your home.  Use the colors of the Sun, yellow and gold.  Appropriate scents for this day include sandalwood, cedar...

Today, as you know, is Thursday and it's a great day for magical maintenance.  Thursday is ruled by Jupiter and the energies to invite in today are prosperity and abundance!  Let's face it, who among us couldn't use some prosperity in our lives right now? Alright, the main scents for the day are patchouli or sage but you could also use anise, clove, or nutmeg. Now the lists of scents I give you are by no means complete.  They're just a few of the more common ones that will be effective.  There are far too many incense and potpourri recipes to list here. If you use a color candle, you should definitely go with some shade of green.  Nearly everything I've ever learned about prosperity spells uses a green candle.  Makes sense right?  However, feel free to continue using a tea light if that's what you normally do.  I always use tea lights for the daily maintenance. That's it for today, more tomorrow.

Wednesday is a day to invite wisdom and communication into your home.  Ruled by Mercury and air, today's scents include lavender, lemon, caraway, dill, fennel, celery seed, or marjoram.  The herbs are included for using a simmering potpourri instead of store bought incense.  But, as always, use what seems right to you.  If you decide to use a color candle, go with yellow or orange for Wednesday. Don't forget to visualize more wisdom and stronger communication within your home when lighting your candle and incense.  It's all about intent. More on magical maintenance tomorrow!

Tuesday is ruled by Mars and the focus for today is passion and vitality.  Some scents to use for today's maintenance are allspice, basil, cumin, ginger, chili powder or any of your favorite spicy incense.  Cinnamon works great for Tuesday.  If you're using a color coordinated candle instead of a plain tea light, definitely use red, Red, RED. Remember that you can use any scent or candle that seems appropriate to you when inviting passion and vitality into your home.  If you don't like any of the suggestions above, then your invitation won't be effective!

One of the simplest ways to make your home a magical space is to invite the positive energies of each day.  This is as easy as burning a candle and some incense each day.  I call this Magical Maintenance.  You don't need a special candle for each day of the week; just use a standard tea light and any incense with an appropriate scent for that day.  Remember, if another goal needs your attention, work towards that instead.  Let's go ahead and start with today, Monday: Monday is ruled by the Moon and the energies to invite in today are peace, nurturing, and compassion.  Some appropriate scents for Monday are jasmine, coconut, lemon, and mint.  If you want to go all out and use a different candle for each day of the week, try to use a pale blue one for Monday. Now, here's the easy part.  Light your chosen candle and incense while visualizing your home filled with today's energies.  If you want you can even say something aloud while lighting ...

It's not always possible to celebrate the seasons the way you'd like to, especially when living on a tight budget. When you're pressed for cash and don't already have this season's decor on hand, one or two well placed candles with a seasonal scent can do the trick!  Even cheaper than candles (because I know they can get expensive!) is to pick up a wax tart warmer at your local dollar type store and get one or two good quality tarts. Any brand of wax tart is fine but the better the quality the longer the scent will last.  Use any scent that best represents the season to you, don't just get the most obvious (unless it happens to be your favorite of course).  Try to pick a neutral tart warmer so you don't feel the need to buy a new one every time the wheel turns and you'll be saving even more of your hard earned cash!

Here are a few ideas to make your everyday tasks work for you... Stir your morning coffee or tea in a clockwise motion to invite positive energies. When cooking, always stir clockwise. Scrub dishes counterclockwise to banish negativity and rinse clockwise for positivity. Clean your rooms working your way around counterclockwise. Use lemon (citrus) or lavender scented cleaning products for household cleaning. Lemon/citrus breaks up negativity and lavender promotes calm. When showering, visualize the water washing away all the bad vibes and problems picked up during the day down the drain. Use toiletries with a scent that is pleasing to you, no need to be expensive or overpowering. Always fold money towards you and receipts away from you. I can't take credit for these ideas, I've learned them from various sources along the way.  Feel free to adapt them to fit your life and see what else you can come up with!

When you live in sunny Florida it can sometimes be hard to stay in tune with the seasons.  Around here we don't really get the crisp and colorful splendor of Fall or the amazing burst of new life in the Spring.  And while it does get cold (yes, cold) here in the Winter, there is no snow for the holidays.  Now, I don't miss having to shovel my driveway or slip 'n slide my way to work from December into March, but there's something to be said for the magic of that first snowfall and holiday shopping just isn't the same without a few flurries. But by simply changing out some of your existing home decor with items that evoke the feeling of each season at least your home will celebrate each new turn of the wheel.  Use whatever feels right to you, there really is no steadfast rule (at least not in my home).  The point is, no matter where you live your life you can still have the feeling of each season and in-between time.  It just takes a little imagination and...