Here in Boulder, we are having our first Frost of the season tonight. Over the weekend we had snow up in the mountains, and this morning when I dropped off the kids at school, there were parents pulling into the parking lot with a thick layer of snow on their car. (Mountain residents)

Saturday we turned on the heater for the first time this year, and I baked bread tonight. The kids got out their winter PJ's and I am wearing socks to bed. That pretty much says it all.

All of us have our rituals that we perform during the changing of the seasons, and just like our traditions over the holidays, these rituals are comforting and help us to mark the passing of time.

Quilters have rituals when the weather gets colder…we have already drawn up our holiday list of quilts to be made, but now as the days get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, we tend to hibernate in our sewing rooms, with mounds of UFO's and scraps. We usually have a cup of something hot to drink close by, and we are drawn to cooler and deeper colors as the nights grow longer.

Friday when our typical Colorado weather bounces back up to 80 degrees (yes!) I'll be a little peeved about my lovely fall sweater that must be shed. I am ready to wear shades of wine, berry, cocoa and charcoal…and I've already switched to my winter shades of lipstick. (love that new trend of RED lipstick!)

So just in case you're having a tough time thinking about those shivery dark quilting months ahead, I thought I'd share one of my favorite winter photos from Chautauqua Park in the foothills of Boulder, with the Flatirons in the background. That's Sam marching up the snow-covered trail, and he still talks about that frosty hike with a big grin. (this photo taken last December)

What's your favorite thing about the coming season? Baking bread and sipping hot tea? Collecting seasonal and holiday fabrics? Sewing snuggly flannel quilts? Staying up late making gifts on wintry nights?