Evening shade

So much of wintertime is spent in darkness. As the nights grow longer I find myself wanting to hibernate, curl up in my house with a roaring fire and a good book, safe and warm.
When I lived in southern Utah the nights were long, but the days were sunny. I did not find myself slipping into torpor as I do here in northern Utah, or as I did in southern Wyoming where I spent my childhood.
I was talking to my sister last night about my natural inclination to be introverted. It becomes more pronounced in the fall and winter when I get the nesting, hibernating instinct.
I suppose this is one reason why we celebrate Christmas. It is an opportunity to think outside of ourselves. It is a chance to gather and be jolly. It is a celebration of joy in the face of deepening gloom.
The Photo a Day challenge is also forcing me to go outside. Last night I played around with my tripod and light. I took these photos on my deck just as dusk was falling. I wanted to go from a new perspective, from the outside looking in, as it were, instead of the usual from the inside looking out on fall.