There is no sunlight here this morning. And I doubt that there will be any sunlight during the whole day. That’s the way it works around here in the winter.
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It is one of those gray winter mornings that people who leave this part of Ohio, never to return, always mention to me as a deciding variable. They hated the oppressive gloom of cold gray days, so they moved on to places that are sunnier or are decidedly wintry.
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None of this half-assed depressing weather for them.
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I don’t blame them, you know? It is difficult to live here when all you see for days– or for weeks– or, during some horrible years, for months– is an endless amount of bleakness.
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I don’t know how those of us who stay here survive it, but we do. Maybe it has something to do with enjoying the color that we create in our homes. Or maybe it has something to do with being accustomed to this sort of winter; we’ve become desensitized to the gloom. Either way, we stay.
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This is a photo of our backyard taken later in the day.
During the afternoon we got a little bit of not-so-pretty snow which has made everything slushy & even more bleak.
I didn’t think that this day could get any more dreary, but clearly I was wrong.
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THE SPECTACLED BEAN 
I relate to this; it’s been cold and rainy here for months, it seems like. We had such a wonderful summer and fall that the bleakness is difficult. (especially for me now)
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Margaret, we’ve had pretty weather to date this December. But this morning it was [and this afternoon it still is] gray outside. At this point in my life I’m rather indifferent to the bleakness, but so many ppl I’ve met along the way can’t take it. So they move away.
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I am one of those who defected to sunshine and sapphire blue skies. But there is a certain peace in staying put that I miss occasionally. I hope having that brightens your dreary winter’s day.
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winsomebella, I agree that there is a peace within this dreariness. Maybe that’s why I don’t freak out about it now– unlike when I was younger and it really got me down.
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It was dreary all morning but it is now snowing. It’s really pretty but they are predicting it will turn to rain by the evening. Bummer!
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kate, we’re getting our usual not-quite-snow, but more-than-rain precipitation here this afternoon. It is blah. I like it when it really, truly snows here– but this ain’t that!
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Right now we are getting beautiful heavy snow but like I said, they are predicting it to change to rain. Everything is white and we only have to go next door for a party tonight. Yay! I also hate the not quite anything precip that we often get.
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We are heading to Ohio tomorrow–definitely not looking forward to the drive. I’m one that really does not miss Ohio winters. I NEED the sunshine and warmth! But I do love your pictures:)
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Beth, safe travels here into the land of snow and bleakness! Hope that you enjoy your stay.
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The snow and other nasty weather went south of us. It was rather gray today, but the sun did come out late in the afternoon. I actually like gray rainy days, walking in the fog, or watching snow fall from the warmth of inside. Provided it doesn’t stick around for too long.
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Zazzy, I don’t hate the bleakness like I once did. I’ve known so many people who could not take it, so they left. We stay, but there are sunless days when I have to wonder why!
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Thanks for reminding me why I love it here!!!
Becky
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Becky, I thought of you as I put this post together! You, obviously, are one of those people who gave up on Ohio– & found yourself a much better place to live. Yeah you.
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We’ve had grey all day and falling temps – and it’s not getting worse with rain rain rain. (luckily the dog went out this morning to run several hours with friends…so even she’s asleep..a real rare thing)
We have such heat and glaring sun I don’t mind the grey – have an excuse to stay home. At least you get snow – we get mud and sog…no such a pretty picture!
Hope you have a cozy leftover week!
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philosophermouse, I don’t mind gray, per se, it’s the nondescript nature of our precipitation that does me in. And that’s what people mention when they leave the area. Snow is good when we have it. Dry gray days are good when we have them. But these half-assed sort of days are very bleak indeed.
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Nothing is worse than wishy washy! (still wet here..drizzle in place of downpours…enough to be tiring and annoying..and the dog has way too much energy)
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I’m not sure how I would like that…I know summers in San Francisco can feel that way, because of the damp fog making everything all gross. But there are breaks of sun that make it more than bearable. I actually don’t mind the gray skies, but maybe I would if I had weeks or months of them. I get tired of bright bright sun and the wrinkles that come with it.
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J, I like plain ‘ole gray days, too. Ones without dirty snow and moldy wetness. But during our winter we have these bleak, pointless days where there is nothing to do outside and everything inside can look drab. This causes some people to become very depressed as there is no escape from the bleakness.
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THIS: “Maybe it has something to do with enjoying the color that we create in our homes.”
My hubby can’t stand Illinois winters and would be much happier in the brown southwest. I actually love a good snow, though I prefer to be home with no place to go when that happens. 🙂
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Melisa, amen sister. I like a good, real, honest & true snow, too. We don’t have them very often, but when we do– and if I have no place to go– I’m in my element. Unfortunately, we have more nondescript bleak winter days than snowy ones here.
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Oh, I waited too long to come here, so I can’t comment on your cranky Christmas post. I’ll comment here instead. 🙂
I find those cards with names pre-printed on them, not signed, nothing, to be lacking a certain bit of caring. Imagine my chagrin when my husband sent some out via computer. I suppose it is the modern age. But the ones I send are signed, and generally have a personal note. Depending on how often I see the person, it might be a letter catching them up with our year, or it might just be best wishes type thing. But about 1/3 of the cards we receive now are the pre-printed ones, so what can one do?
I have never been a fan of cheesy Christmas music. I love the religious songs. Perhaps that’s silly, since I’m an atheist, but I do feel like if we’re going to celebrate the birth of Christ, it’s nice to have some songs about it, you know? I ALMOST made it through the entire season without hearing ‘Santa Baby’, my least favorite Christmas song ever. Then it came on at my MILs house. Rats.
Your point about forced cheerfulness at a time when nature wants us to hole up and be cozy struck me as fairly accurate, even though I do enjoy Christmas a lot. Sometimes there’s just too much pressure involved in the day, you know? Pressure to be cheerful, to go out and do things you maybe don’t want to do, blah blah blah.
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J, I need to do a study of how many of the impersonal, printed Christmas cards we got this year. I love that you have a statistic to put with your dissatisfaction.
I can tolerate ‘Santa Baby.’ It is that Paul McCartney ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ song that sets my teeth on edge. And it was on in every store I went into this December. *meh*
I agree that there is a lot of pressure around Christmas. I’ve found that as I get older, I’m more immune to it. But I know that is still there trying to force me to be. happy. dammit!
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