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A Friendly Arm in Winter

December 5th, 2011

“The sun lay like a friendly arm across her shoulder.”

~Margorie Kinnan Rawlings in South Moon Under

It’s amazing how a few months can change so many things. This time of year the sun doesn’t reach as high in the sky and thus it bathes the front of our house in a golden glow in the afternoon.

In summer, the hot afternoon sun is shaded out by the porch roof, which we certainly welcome it as it keeps the house much cooler. In winter we appreciate that the sun is lower in the sky and it comes streaming in all afternoon to brighten up the short days.

The rising and falling of the sun in the sky at different angles throughout the year is certainly one of the wonderful things about living in the North. The days are shorter for sure in winter, but the sun is much more welcome than it is during the hot humid days mid-summer. I’m not much of one to spend time in the sun during the heat of the day, I much prefer the morning or late afternoon sun.

Are you a spend time in the hot sun kind of person, or do you prefer it after it’s waning and softer/cooler?

10 Comments to “A Friendly Arm in Winter”
  1. Jennifer Fisk on December 5, 2011 at 8:48 am

    Even though we usually don’t have the kind of heat you do in the mid west, I can’t take being in the garden when it is over 75 especially if it is humid. I do most of my gardening before the sun gets to it or after the sun has passed behind the trees.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  2. Michaela on December 5, 2011 at 9:22 am

    One of my favorite things about where I live is the late afternoon light that streams into the kitchen. When it’s sunny, I usually spend at least one weekend afternoon working on projects at the kitchen table. It feels “wrong” somehow to spend time in a darker room when the light is so precious at this time of year.

    Reply to Michaela's comment

    • Susy on December 5, 2011 at 9:47 am

      I agree, I find myself migrating to the living room to work when the sun is coming in the windows instead of sitting in the office on the dark back corner of the house.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  3. Texan on December 5, 2011 at 11:24 am

    I am pretty much a spend as much time as I can outside gal unless its over 100. Once we start hitting that I have to either be under a tree or under the shade cloth hoop houses to be in the garden. I like the heat but even I have limits of what I can handle.

    These shorter winter days are hard on me. I am always so ready to see those longer sunny days :O).

    Reply to Texan's comment

  4. daisy on December 5, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    What a lovely way to embrace the seasons. I guess I never thought about the position of the sun too much, as it doesn’t change too much here in Florida. Enjoy the sunlight, in all its glory!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  5. Mich on December 5, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    In the UK you gotta be grateful for sunshine at any time of year! Lol.
    Though i have to admit i’m not a fan of searing hot sunshine, love those warm balmy days.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  6. Kathi Cook on December 5, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Love that quote. I really appreciate the sun in the winter because I spend alot of time outside and it makes it more pleasant.

    Reply to Kathi Cook's comment

  7. Sofie Dittmann on December 5, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    70 F. give me 70 F and i’m happy. :)

    Reply to Sofie Dittmann's comment

    • Jennifer Fisk on December 5, 2011 at 8:47 pm

      I agree with 70 but never dare hope for perfection.

      Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  8. alison@thisbloominglife on December 6, 2011 at 1:44 am

    We should be enjoying the sunshine here at the start of summer, alas, it is cold and I am about to light a fire to warm the place up. Our house has wide verandahs all around to keep out the heat of the Australian summer. The downside is that in winter, only one room gets the lovely sun. Guess where we all hang out then? Yep, the one room!

    Reply to alison@thisbloominglife's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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