Alaskan Seasons

My mom used to say that she got married on the first day of fall.

She got married August 1.

I would argue with her every time she made the above statement that fall doesn't start until September 21st (or there abouts) and that I had a whole store full of calendars that would back me up.

My mother, of course, never wavered in her opinion.

This year, I was on the trail (running - because I'm sick like that now) and noticed, on August 1, that there were leaves on the ground.

Mom was so right.

The biggest question in my mind has been, "If fall starts August 1, when does winter start?" So I've been waiting and paying attention and, in my humble opinion, winter starts (at the latest!) on the autumnal equinox.

Why do I say latest? Because, once again in my humble opinion, winter is already here.

There is fresh snow on our tallest mountain peaks (which are all under 5,000 feet). We have our first nasty storm of the season hitting us right. now.

And....

our power just went off for the first time this winter.

Yup. I should start the cocoa and light the fire because winter is most definitely here.