Ah what a Winter Wonderland. Winter is officially here for those of us who live in the Norther Hemisphere. With the coming of winter we will be experiencing the shortest periods of daylight and the coldest temperatures of the year. Some regions will experience high rates of precipitation due to snow and blizzards. Ice fog caused by tiny ice crystals that hang in the air and only form during the coldest times of the year will also be a problem for some regions. Winter is when blizzards will form with all the associated headaches of travel delays and the dangers of frostbite to humans and animals a like. Many animals will adapt during the winter months by heading south to warmer and more hospitable surroundings or will change their body in some form to be more able to adapt to the colder climate. Other animals will deal with the coming of winter and colder and harsher weather by just curling up and going to sleep in what is referred to as hibernation.
Not everyone will experience winter at the same time. The tilt of the Earths axis has a dramatic affect on the weather of any region. As the earth moves through its orbit the amount of sunlight hitting each region of the earth is different and determines to a great degree what kind of weather that region will have. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing more warmer temperatures. It does not matter what region you live in you will technically experience winter although in the southern Hemisphere will usually be much milder with little snow or ice except in the higher mountanous elevations.
If you are lucky enough to have some snowfall during the winter months there are many out door activities you can enjoy. Skiing, building a snowman, sledding or having a snowball fight are just a few of the out door activiites you can enjoy. If you are fortunate to live close enough where there is ice available either naturally made or in the form of an ice rink you can enjoy ice skating, ice fishing, ice hockey or a variety of other ice activities.
Many people do not look forward to winter and just try to get through it in the best way they know how. If you are one of these people there are many activities that can help you do just that. Winters long evenings give you a chance to catch up on reading all those books or watching those great movies that you never could seem to find the time for during the long summer days when you were busy with so many different activites. Winter gives you the chance to spend more time with family and friends visiting or playing board games. And what evening would be complete with a cup of hot chocolate. Here is a simple yet delicious recipe that you are sure to enjoy:
*20 ounces of scalded milk (don't burn yourself!)
*2 oz of unsweetened chocolate
*1/4 cup of sugar
* 2 tsp vanilla
*1/8 tsp salt
In a blender combine the above ingredients with 1/2 cup
of the milk. Blend until you have a smooth texture and then
add the rest of the milk and serve. It tastes great on a cold
winter night.
To some winter brings not a winter wonderland but a winter nightmare. Some people dread the start of winter with the colder temperature and shorter days. There will be less hours of sunlight not only due to the shorter days but there is often more cloud cover in the winter. This can affect people's moods in a negative way. this is sometimes referred to as the winter blues, holiday doldrums or the January blahs. This can affect some people in a very serious way. Seasonal Affective Disorder is the name given to this type of depression suffered by a certain part of the population. People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD as it is commonly referred to will experience physical aches, depression, tiredness and the feeling of wanting to sleep more. Although researchers believe that some people are more genetically disposed to SAD many who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder do so because of the decreased amount of light they are exposed to due to cloud cover and the angle of the sun hitting the earth. Seasonal Affective Disorder is the price some of us must pay for living in a Winter Wonderland.
