>> ADIA: IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE YEAR, OR CLOSE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THIS MONOLOGUE, SO IT'S TIME FOR SOME END-OF-YEAR REVIEWS.

IN THIS EDITION: THE SEASONS IN MINNESOTA.

WINTER: BEAUTIFUL, UNFORGIVING, DIVISIVE.

WINTER HAS HER STANS.

THEY LOVE HER CRISP, COLD DAYS AND WHAT SHE OFFERS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, BUT LATELY HER SHOWING HAS BEEN LACKLUSTER, WITH STINGY DUSTINGS OF SNOW AND UNCHARACTERISTICALLY WARM DAYS.

COULD SHE BE LOSING HER EDGE?

SPRING IS WINTER'S INSECURE COUSIN.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WANTS TO BE: FRIGID AND SLUSHY ONE MOMENT, HOTTER THAN BLAZES THE NEXT.

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, GIRL.

SUMMER IS EATING YOU UP.

SUMMER: THE FRIEND WHO'S JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR MUCH TOO LONG.

SHE CAN BE THE FUN-TIME PARTY GIRL, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, YOU JUST WANT HER TO BACK UP OFF OF YOU.

ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE WILDFIRES.

IT'S NOT ME, SUMMER; IT'S YOU.

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: FALL.

CALM, COOL, AND SOMEHOW STILL WARM AND INVITING.

THIS GOLDEN GIRL IS A LITERAL BREATH OF FRESH AIR AFTER SUMMER'S MESS.

FLAUNTS HER BEST COLORS, KNOWS HER ANGLES, AND SOMEHOW MAKES EVERYONE AROUND HER LOOK GOOD, TOO.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A BAD PHOTO WITH FALL?

I DON'T THINK SO.

AND WHEN IT'S HER TIME, SHE BOWS OUT GRACEFULLY, MAKING ROOM FOR THE BEST SIDE OF WINTER.

WHAT A GEM.

MY REVIEWS ARE, OBVIOUSLY, BIASED, BUT THIS WEEK WAS NEARLY PERFECT.

CAN YOU BLAME ME?