Goodbye Father Winter, it's time to leave!

When Father Winter with his icy grip arrives I am prepared. The entire summer he's in my mind. I need to buy and chop firewood, store enough food and check on the socks, scarves and hats plus take the extra blankets and winter coats out of the storage.
So far I'm satisfied, not too much ice, no snow blankets, just the cold seeping into every corner which makes the entire house suitable as a fridge and a great place for mice to survive the winter. I struggle to stay warm and my resources dwindle as Father Winter drags on. I wish I could hibernate it makes life so much easier and above all cheaper. No need to make a fire, cook or eat extra calories to stay warm, no lack of vitamins and energy.

Despite my wish to hibernate indoors, there is no escaping the cold.

With cold hands and feet, weary bones and joints, the weight of the season is felt most. I understand why the elderly try to escape and rather stay in the warm southern countries than try to survive another ice age or die because of the hungry winter. If you die around here it will take till spring before you'll be found unless the postman can arrive at your house and thinks there might be something wrong.

_{source Goodbye Father Winter, Hello Lady Spring}

One sunbeam is a glimmer of hope, brings warmth and is the promise days are getting longer. The laundry can dry outside, I take walks in the sunlight instead of the fog. I can't wait till Lady Spring arrives and the world is green again.

I will never miss the cold, the ice or the snow I just want to enjoy the warm embrace of the sun and feel the energy inside me again.
Father Winter makes me slow so I can't wait for Lady Spring, to open all the windows and feel a warm breeze, to hear the birds sing. I'll wash the curtains, clean the house and remove the ashes of the winter fires which can even be found in the cupboards. I will be relieved every single day till... I start preparing for Winter and the whole circus starts again .