*This post is part of a collaborative project - a year of stories shared by a group of 15 photographers every Monday in 2016. Please visit Cynthia Dawson Photography after you read this post to continue the circle.*
It was January 12th. It was bitingly cold. There are two things we have observed about the property on which our new house lies. First, the sunsets are simply stunning. Having lived my life in homes where I could not view the sunset, I do not take this scene for granted. I watch it every day. Second, it is windy. For some reason the wind is channeled over our land, usually from north to south. That came in handy over the humid summer when there was nearly always a breeze. However, when the weather forecast indicates it may be windy that means it's going to be rather gusty for us. On this particular day the wind was nothing short of fierce. This sunset beckoned us out despite it.
I simply cannot resist walking to the crest of the hill to watch it. I can't. So gusty wind aside, we threw on jackets and headed out for the quick minutes before the sun set. I needed to make dinner, we needed to start homework and piano, there were household chores to do, but I decided to be flexible. Be spontaneous. Go against the inner instinct to be dutiful and diligent, forgoing fun first.
For we can do our duties all evening long in the dark. But we cannot play in the sunshine but for a few more minutes.
What we found, however, was CRAZY wind. Wind that made it hard to keep upright. Wind that make your fingers ache with the chill. Wind that blew hair straight horizontal. Wind that billowed out our clothes and snaked its way inside. Wind that blew leaves across the yard for Hugo to chase indefinitely. We played for thirty minutes until the Lady and I couldn't take it anymore. The Boy came in soon after once the audience was gone.
I don't think any of the three of us will forget that day - the day that Momma changed her mind about setting to task and went out and played in the wind, too.
I didn't think at the time to turn the real camera around to me, but I did grab an iphone shot of the three of us as we were heading inside after all the fun.