Saturday, March 4, 2017

#SOL17 Changing Seasons 4/31


2017 is the tenth year of the Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers, but it is my first time participating. The goal is to write and post a "slice of life" story every day during the month of March. (I will still be posting book reviews but a little less frequently.)

Many classrooms are also participating in the Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge. My seventh graders will be joining in a very limited form (writing 10 posts over the 10 class periods we have after March 7th when our previous unit wraps up). We'd love to connect with other middle schoolers via Kidblog (drop me a line at katie at thelogonauts.com to connect).

Slice of Life: Changing Seasons


I've been thinking a lot about the changing of the seasons lately (see my first post on the "new abnormal" for weather). Even the topic for this month's Diverse Children's Book linkup is seasons.

I grew up in Wisconsin, ended up back here for graduate school, and stayed. I've never spent significant time anywhere that didn't have four very distinct seasons, but I just don't think I could handle the monotony.

One of the things I love about the changing seasons is how much nature forces you to notice that things are different. Spring isn't here yet, but already I'm thinking about the wet worm smell of spring rains, sighting the first robins, and watching the new buds form on the trees.

Somehow this year the sandhill cranes beat the robins ...

This will be our second spring and summer in our house, and we are filled with of ideas about what to try and what to change (and placing bets on how out-of-control our one raspberry cane might become in its second year). The previous owners left us a significantly blank canvas to work with, and last year was a bit of a scattershot approach.

Inside, we are working on ways to bring the changing seasons into our decor and design. Today was finally the chance to bring out my sewing machine and inaugurate our spring projects. Hemming curtains, sewing pillow covers, and turning table runners into wall hangings took up most of the morning. (With some delays due to my lovely assistant.)


Like daily photography, like daily writing, the changes of the seasons are another way to slow down, pay attention, and notice.

What's your favorite thing about a new season?

(Click here to read my previous Slice of Life Challenge posts.)

10 comments:

  1. Oh how I LOVE the changing of the seasons!! I love them all...each one brings such special and unique things. It sounds like you made the most of it and that you captured all that makes season changes fun in one, packed day! Loved your slice!

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    1. Thanks, Katy! I love how when every season begins, it becomes my favorite one.

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  2. That picture of the sandhill cranes: !!!

    I love living somewhere with four seasons. I love looking and listening to the earth as it changes. I totally agree that changing out home decorations makes a big difference!

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    1. Thanks, Eliza! It was amazing how little the cranes cared that we were there (which was handy, since I only had my phone camera on me).

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  3. Katie,

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and this slice of seasonal life. Congratulations on making it to the deadline today, as well.

    I grew up in southern California, and now I live in Bahrain, where the season changes are ever-so-subtle. For 20 glorious years in between, I fell in love with the four seasons, as I lived in Michigan and then in Iowa. There is no season I dislike. They all come and go in just the right amount of time. Before I tired of the previous one, we were changing again. I love them all.

    Your Sandhill crane picture is awesome.

    Warmly,
    Denise

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    1. Thanks, Denise! I thought the weekend would be easier for slicing, but then my husband and spent the whole day running around doing other things. Appreciate the comments and support!

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  4. The thing I like about changing seasons is the newness of it all -- the sights, the smells, the experiences. Everything is so fresh and floods my senses. Here's to a new season in Wisconsin! Can't wait!!

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    1. Yes, the smells! I know "wet worm" doesn't capture it, but it's really all there is to say about those early spring rains.

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  5. it's a way to get a change of scenery without leaving home

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