Mary Caelsto

Cold. It sweeps through with the wind like dogs nipping at your heels. Leaves rattle on the trees, rustling with their own music of winter’s imminent arrival. Plants have turned barren; the last of the fall harvests are waiting on the vine. A final discovered cucumber marks the last of my garden’s produce, though the banana peppers I left on the plant for fun are now turning red. I wonder if they’re going from sweet to hot, as if they, too, know that we need extra warmth this time of year.

I’ve resisted turning on the furnace. Well, I did one night, and it kicked in twice, and just for about five minutes each time. Turning down the thermostat to 65, or lower, for me isn’t just a way to save money. It’s a way to save the Earth too. I don’t mind running around in long sleeved shirts and fuzzy slippers indoors. In fact, I bought three new pairs of long-sleeved flannel pjs just for that purpose. I once had a one-piece zip up sleeper like children’s sleepwear, except without the feet. I wish they made cozy outfits like that for adults.

Cold is a cycle, a way to make things dormant, and for allergy suffers like myself, a way to give us a few months of peace before Mother Nature unleashes her pollenated fury on us once more. I like the cold and I welcome winter with open arms.

Join in the fun here!

The purpose of Witchy Words is to get to know everyone who participates a little better, one week at a time. Sometimes our weeks are themed. Other times it’s free form. Reading other Witchy Words is encouraged. If you participate, please visit the Witchy Words site at www.witchywords.com and leave your link in the comments. The opionions expressed in this Witchy Words are solely those of the author. ]]> http://marycaelsto.com/archives/16/feed 0 http://marycaelsto.com/archives/11 http://marycaelsto.com/archives/11#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:15:55 +0000 Mary Caelsto http://www.marycaelsto.com/?p=11 Witchy Words Written by Mary CaelstoBalance. It’s a difficult word, and yet, it’s one that we think about. We have New Balance sneakers. We have Smart Balance butter. We talk about balanced diets and balanced nutrition. Countless news stories and magazines talk about balancing family and home life. And yet, are we ever really balanced at all?It can be tough. Balance is such a precarious thing. During the Olympics, along with my fellow Iowans and countless others, I watched Shawn Johnson on the balance beam. On a four inch wide piece of lumber, she performed amazing feats of acrobatics. Her poise and grace belied the fact that she stood on a such a small space. I don’t think many of us could walk straight across the balance beam, let alone leap and jump as if we were made of air.

And yet, in truth, that’s what we’re asked to do. And this equinox reminds us of the precious balance we all have in our lives. It’s only twice a year where the length of day and night are equal. The other 363 days things are skewed either one way or the other.

I think most of us could say that our balance is like that too…

The purpose of Witchy Words is to get to know everyone who participates a little better, one week at a time. Sometimes our weeks are themed. Other times it’s free form. Reading other Witchy Words is encouraged. If you participate, please visit the Witchy Words site at witchywords.com and leave your link in the comments. The opionions expressed in this Witchy Words are solely those of the author. ]]> http://marycaelsto.com/archives/11/feed 0