Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.”

With the end of daylight saving time this weekend, the idea of “precious sunshine” really hit home as I set out for an evening walk and found that it was already pitch-dark outside! Thankfully, the route is so familiar that I don’t need to see the low-slung tree branches in order to duck under them.

This is the time of year when the days are so bright and crisp you can’t stand to be inside, then evening arrives like a light switch to remind you to savor the sunshine while you can. This dark evening, I didn’t waste any time – I piled the logs on the fireplace to fill the house with warmth and light, my own tiny little sun to chase away the cold.

It’s not quite the same, but if you add in some hot cider and wool socks, it’s not a bad trade. If the sun’s out, you’ll find me outside, and if I can’t be outside, at least I’ll be cozy.