With a snowstorm dumping about nine inches of fluffy white on us this weekend — a rare treat for our area — we found ourselves pausing to admire how lovely everything looked under a fresh blanket of snow. That moment also reminded us why we appreciate living in central Virginia: we’re fortunate to experience all four seasons. Long, pleasant springs and colorful falls are common here, punctuated by the occasional snow event (we’ve had measurable accumulation three times in four years, just infrequent enough to feel special). Yes, summer brings sticky humidity, but for us that’s a fair trade for the variety the year delivers.
We spent our big snow day digging out photos of the house taken across the seasons. It’s fun to see how different the same views can look from one quarter of the year to the next. Below are a few seasonal snapshots of the front of our home, Casa Petersik. We don’t seem to have a summer shot from this exact angle yet — another small thing to add to our to-do list — but we do have spring, fall, and winter photos to share.
Here’s the front of the house in spring (photo taken in April of 2009). The fresh green and early blooms make everything feel renewed; this picture is actually the one we use in our blog header. Spring has a softness to it that highlights architectural details and landscaping in a gentle way, and it’s one of our favorite times to appreciate simple improvements and changes made over the years.
In the fall (photo taken in September of 2007) the house takes on a different personality. This particular image predates several updates we made: removing an old yellow storm door, demoing a country-style scalloped porch header, refreshing the front landscaping, painting a large gray gas tank to blend with the house, and completing a full porch makeover. Autumn’s rich tones and crisp air make the house feel cozy, and the changing light often shows off paint colors and textures in a flattering way.
And here’s the front in winter, wearing a clean layer of snow (photo taken in December of 2009). Snow simplifies the scene, softening edges and adding contrast that makes trim and rooflines stand out. Even a modest snowfall can transform an ordinary yard into a quiet, almost magical landscape.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that we had backyard photos from every season as well. Starting with spring (photo taken in April of 2009), the view from the back patio shows fresh growth and the first signs of perennial life waking up. Spring in the backyard is all about promise: buds, sprigs of green, and the gradual return of bird song.
Mid-summer (photo taken in June of 2009) finds the yard lush and full, right after the lawn was mowed and the garden was in its full stride. Summer brings long, bright days that encourage outdoor living, but it also comes with maintenance tasks like mowing, watering, and managing fast-growing plants.
Here’s the backyard in fall (photo taken in September of 2008). Leaves begin to color and drop, creating a warm, textured carpet across the lawn. Fall is a time for harvest, cleanup, and preparation for the colder months — raking leaves, storing outdoor furniture, and tidying up flower beds are common chores that help the yard transition gracefully.
Finally, a winter view from the back (photo taken in March of 2009) shows the yard under a stark, bright layer of snow. Winter encourages indoor projects, cozy evenings by the fire, and a slower pace of outdoor work, though it also brings its own chores like shoveling paths and protecting sensitive plants from freezing temperatures.
Having visual documentation of the house through nearly every season is a small but meaningful pleasure. It helps us dream about summer days when it’s cold outside and reminisce about snowy weekends when warm weather returns. Experiencing all four seasons also keeps us mindful of the cyclical maintenance each period requires — from spring planting and summer mowing to fall leaf cleanup and occasional winter shoveling.
What about you? Do you get to enjoy distinct seasons where you live, or does your climate stay fairly constant year-round? Is there a particular season that makes your home look its best, or one that you find especially demanding because of the chores it brings? We’d love to hear which season you look forward to most and which tasks you dread each year.