Winter is upon us. I am one of the few people who is waiting with anxious, giddy excitement for it to arrive. I can’t wait to bundle up in my warm winter layers. I look forward to the blanket of white that will cover the forests and my favorite hiking trails.  I look forward also to the sound of a loud crunch as my hikers break through the first layer of crusty snow, revealing fluffy white bliss beneath the surface.

But, for now I wait.  I wait in the transition between the beauty of bright red and orange leaves, and the blinding white blanket that is soon to arrive.  Now, as those beautiful leaves have fallen to the ground and the fields have turned a pale yellow hue, I wait. The flurries that stay around for just a few hours, only to be washed away by cold rain and damp fog, are nothing more than a tease.

During the spring, summer and fall months in Nova Scotia there is beauty at every turn. During those months, rainbows of brightly colored boats are docked at wharves along coastal villages. Pink and purple lupins line roadsides all over the province. Fields are a rich shade of green, and Adirondack chairs in brilliant pops of color sit on docks and decks at every turn.  The beauty at those times of year is often too much to take in.

During the time of year when autumn is turning into winter, the beauty in Nova Scotia is a bit more reserved.

During a drive toward the Annapolis Valley a couple of weeks ago I found myself looking for any hint of beauty I could find.  For me, this wasn't terribly difficult.  I think the skeleton trees that line the highway are stunning. The exposed branches, with all their twists and gnarly turns, reveal the growth that has taken place to form the shape of a tree. The birds that would normally be camouflaged in the leaves are now in plain view.

I still easily see beauty this time of year, even as I wait for fluffy white flakes to fall and cover the fields, branches and trails. The photos I am sharing in this post are a few examples of the beauty I have recently seen during the transition from fall to winter. Even a recent chilly beach stroll turned up beautiful stones and patterns in rocks.  The beauty is there, we just need to take the time to explore it.  Soak it up while you can – it will all soon be covered in a blanket of white.