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January 7, 2014

Summer Sweat or Winter Chill?


Yeah, I know it’s winter, and we’ve just survived ice apocalypse 2013 where I live and now we’re experiencing the Polar Express. But we don’t have it as bad as many parts of the country. I thought the picture of the Dallas Arboretum in summer would maybe warm everyone up today.  I’ve always considered myself more of a winter person than a summer girl just because the temperature in Texas gets so freaking hot. When the temperature climbs, higher than 98 I’m indoors. The heat makes me cranky, irritable and I hate to sweat. The feel of sweat trickling down your back and your hair sticking to your head makes me want to shower again. In the summer, I’ve been known to take more than one shower a day, just to get the sweat off.

Being an outdoor person, when the temperature climbs so high it’s miserable, I have to stay indoors, and that’s when I stop liking summer. In the winter, I’ve always felt like you can add more clothes. Yes, it can be bundle some, but still you can get comfortable once you have enough layers. Before I hurt my ankle, I loved to ski. There is something about being outdoors, in the pines, gliding through the snow. My husband and I like to hike in the winter, even when there’s snow. It’s fun to walk the back country and spend time outdoors.



Once when I was skiing up at Wolf Creek, which is in southern Colorado, it was almost blizzard conditions. The snow was almost blinding when I got to the top of the mountain, and the powder was deep. When my lips started to freeze to my scarf, I decided it was time to give it up and go drink hot chocolate in the lounge. The beauty of the pine trees, the white powder and the empty slopes were hard to resist.

Camping has always been one of my favorite activities. There is nothing like sitting around a campfire, no television, no stereo, no phones, just you the stars and the fire. But if it’s over one hundred degrees, it’s not fun.  I'm a girl who needs air conditioning.

With Ice Apocalypse, I didn’t get out of the house for five days, and I cooked more food than I can remember. We didn’t eat out for over a week, and that’s unusual for us. It wasn’t bad, but by the fifth day I was ready to get out and go to a Yoga class or the grocery store. Cabin fever had set in.

While I consider myself a winter person, just because I don’t like extreme heat, most of my books take place during the summer. There is nothing like curling up with a good book on a stormy winter night.

So what is your favorite time of year? Are you a winter or a summer person? 

Sylvia has sixteen books on Amazon, B&N and Kobo. She’s working on a new series and finishing up a new book.  Look for her at www.sylviamcdaniel.com or on facebook at SylviamcdanielAuthor.








20 comments:

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sylvia! I am such a summer person. I only wish ours came without mosquitoes. lol

Barb Han said...

Lead me to the cold! I agree with you, I can always bundle up. Overheat me and I'm done. I love to ski, too. I agree, there's no better feeling that being on top of a mountain (which feels like the world) with poles in my hands and crisp mountain air in my lungs. Then, I take the plunge.

Michelle Miles said...

I like winter. But only if I can stay inside. I hate when my feet get cold! As for summer... I dislike when it becomes the Pit of Hades around here.

Sylvia said...

Vicki,
I so agree about the mosquitoes. Hate those little buggers and they love me.

Sylvia said...

Barb,
I haven't skied since I hurt my ankle. I'm almost afraid to, but I agree there is no better feeling than to be at the top of a mountain and I'm afraid of heights. But as long as my feet on the ground I'm okay.

Sylvia said...

Michelle,
I love our springs and falls, but I hate it when our summers get so hot. I agree its the Pit of Hades. Give me air conditioning.

chris keniston said...

not just summer- Beach baby- with warm white sand, crystal blue water, pina coladas and if you toss in a cabana boy I won't complain!

Phyllis said...

Hi Sylvia,

Here is the order of favorite seasons I enjoy most according to state:
For Texas, equal love to Spring and Fall, then Winter and finally Summer. For Colorado (my home state) Spring, Fall Summer and Winter.
Ah mn, this just made me homesick.....

Sylvia said...

Hi Chris,
When you're on the beach at least when you get hot, you can get in the water. Or if you have a pool. But summertime without a beach and a pool, just means you're going to sweat or have to take a shower. Love the beach with the warm white sand, crystal blue water, pina coladas and a good-looking cabana boy....why Chris, that's jail bate. Shame on you.

Sylvia said...

Phyllis,
What you describe for Colorado is exactly the reason we're moving there. Yes, I know there will be cold days. But OMG, the summers are gorgeous. The fall is beautiful and I've yet to experience a spring. But I can't wait. Now I just have to sell a lot more books to get to go there full-time. Sorry, I made you homesick.

Alisha said...

Maybe this frigid winter will kill all those blood suckers out there! I love summertime. I love to swim and camp but I hate when it gets into the triple digits! I love to snow ski and would love to live in Colorado. I skiied in 17 inch snow in Steamboat one year and fell in love with it! And their summers sound lovely! I might move there too! Seriously! My honey and I are talking about it because we love to ski.

Pamela Stone said...

I enjoy the different seasons. I love winter for about one cold front. Then I'm done!!! I agree with Chris. Give me a beach. Sand between my toes. Salt in the air. Seagulls squawking. Hey, it's January and hubby and I just got back from the beach. Had to have a little sand between my toes, even if it was only 60 degrees. Chris, we need to start interviewing for this summer's cabana boys.

Sylvia said...

Alisha,
I agree about I hope this cold weather kills all those blood suckers. Mosquitos now scare me and I refuse to camp once it gets over 100. I'm good to about 98 but after that its a scorcher. I loved Steamboat Springs, though we didn't ski there. We were there in the summertime and it was beautiful. If and when we get our house built, you will have to visit us in Pagosa Springs.

Sylvia said...

Pam,
I'm glad we have different seasons as well. It makes me appreciate the ones I love even more. I guess if I lived up north where they are dealing with -54 degrees, then I would hate winter. I doubt that I could take that kind of cold. It reminds me of our summers only a different extreme. The beach is lovely and I like that as well. I'm trying to talk hubby into going back to Hawaii. I'm still working on it.

Kimberly Dawn said...

I definitely prefer the summer. So much more convenient to take the kids outside to play, plus I love to grow a garden. I also love seeing all my pretty flowers bloom.

Sylvia said...

Kim,
I'm so happy you stopped by. Thank you!! The 'Kim's' on my street team are the best!! My husband grows a garden every year for the dang pests who live in our neighborhood. You notice I don't say us, because the birds and either a possum or a coon seem to eat all of our vegetables. I tell him he is such a good husband to feed the wildlife. But I do enjoy all the pretty flowers blooming. I plant those, he plants vegetables.

Wanda (A Book Lover's Retreat) said...

Hi Miss Sylvia! I so prefer the summer! I'm out as much as I can be in warmer weather. I get claustrophobic in winter! 9 degrees here last night and you know I can wait for at least April to get here. :)

Karilyn Bentley said...

I'm just like you Sylvia! I love the cold!!! You can always put on more clothes, but there's only so much you can take off and not get arrested. :) That said, I would not want to live where it's 5 below. Brrrrrr.

Kathleen Baldwin said...

HI Sylvia!
This all makes sense you being a Colorado girl and all.
I'm opposite. I love being warm. born in Phoenix on the hottest day of summer that year. Summer baby!

But skiing is fun and that makes winter tolerable. ;-) But I always have to soak in a hot tub afterward.

-Kat

Kathy Ivan said...

I am so a winter over summer person. I can't stand the heat, yet it seems everywhere I've ever lived it has always been hot. Florida, California, Texas.

Given me cooler temperatures and I'm much happier. I can layer on lots of sweaters and scarves and get warmer. There's not a whole lot I can do to get cooler in the 100+ degrees except sit in front of the A/C unit with it blowing in my face. LOL

Great post, Sylvia.