“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” — Paul Theroux

As the summer sun bids its warm adieu, weary from the toil of weeding, canning, and the relentless embrace of high temperatures, a solemn promise escapes my lips: no more gardens, I declare. Yet, as the days inch beyond the winter solstice, a subtle shift occurs. Winter, with its quiet grace, cradles me in rest and cool tranquility. In this stillness, I find myself immersed in the enchanting world of seed catalogs, conjuring dreams and plotting new ways to nurture life. This winter solstice, like any other, becomes a beacon, not just marking the change of seasons, but heralding a personal renewal—an ode to the enduring cycle of growth and the perennial hope that awakens with each passing year.