By Janet Owen
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
Robert Frost. New Hampshire, 1923
Whenever I read this timeless poem, I always hope that after miles to go before he slept that he would arrive at a welcoming environment and that there would be a roaring fire in the fireplace at his destination. This iconic poem has always made me think of the silence just after it snows and about how everything in our city is so quiet and so still, if even for just a few hours.
Chicago in the wintertime . . . one of our best kept secrets . . .
It’s a great time to do so many things that are unexpected in Chicago in the winter; snowshoe or cross country ski in Lincoln Park or take the children outside to make snow angels, throw snowballs, sled down their favorite hill or ice skate in many of our wonderful neighborhood parks . . . all so simple, yet so much fun!
But whatever we choose to do during the day, to end the day in front of a cozy fire is a very special experience . . . Our friends and family who live in warmer climates are missing the wonders of winter in Chicago.
A fire in the fireplace on a chilly evening makes me truly relax. I forget about my endless “to-do” list and concentrate on the very moment. Any stress I’ve felt during the day seems to evaporate. Perhaps I’ll decide to pick up that book I’ve been meaning to read or go through an old photograph album. It’s a good opportunity to listen to my favorite music or turn off the news for a few idyllic hours of silence in front of the fire.
Winter in Chicago and a roaring fire. A very special time . . .
