 With all the flowers gone dormant, bare trees, and muted colors, you might think there's not much to see. In this winter landscape.  But look! There's color and texture ... and love etched in unexpected places.  The secret of course is to watch for it. To train your eyes to see the color and shapes and signs of the beauty that surrounds us ... no matter the season. 
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 The plow RUMBLES down the road, and like the returning tiDE on a flat sand beach, pushes wAVes of snow to the side of the road, sPiLLiNg and rolling it into driveways and waLKways, SiGnaLLinG the tiMe is riGht for BuiLDing cAstles and maKing new fRienDs It's not always easy to find the motivation to bundle up and go outside on cold, snowy days, but when the storm passes and the sun comes out, a snow-covered landscape is a wonderland. There's a hush and fresh feeling in the air. And if the snow is good for snowballs, it's good for making snow people. Oceana above was one in a series of snofolk I made for winter greetings. She, like all the others, lasted a few good days before her seashell nose and muscle-shell necklace started to drop. She was quickly and gracefully dismantled. Whether it's snowing or the sun is shining where you live, I hope you'll find your way outdoors today. Despite the snowfall, winter has yet to arrive, but with visions of spring atop my desk, here's a close-up peek at another floral collage in the works the upcoming journal, A Garden of Good Things.  The Festival of Winter Walks encourages us all to get outside when it's cold and the days are short. Last year on a walk through the woods, I took a series of photos, converted them to black and white, and love how they look. Are you ready? Let's go for a walk ... I was glad to see this tree hadn't let go of its leaves, it seemed to welcome us into the woods.  The stream below the bridge is frozen and the boards creak underfoot as we cross. Note the white trail blaze. Do you see it?  Snow blankets the ground like frosting ... all the way to the edge of the stream. When we stand still long enough to calm our breathing, we can hear the water trickle over the rocks.  Heart shaped pockets of snow and deep wells around tree trunks.  Today is a good day for a walk. Tomorrow, too. To make the most of your winter walk, bundle up. Wear layers you can unzip and unbutton as your body warms (and it will). Grab a hat, gloves, and wear proper shoes or boots. You might also tuck a few hard candies into one pocket ... one for you and a few to share. Vary your walks from in-town sidewalks to parks, and wooded trails ... to keep things interesting, create challenges for yourself: - take note (and photos) of seasonal changes - say hello to everyone you pass - count how of many and what type of dogs, cats, or birds you see - take along a snack for an impromptu picnic - exhale and watch your breath to see which way the wind is blowing - and be sure to look around ... and up   Weeks into winter, we were 17" below average for snowfall, and then came the storms, one after another, and they dumped enough snow to make up the deficit. After the first storm it seemed we were living in a snow globe. Snow covered rooftops, trees, and streets ... for days. It was beautiful. After the snow came, I realized I missed the hush of a snow-covered landscape and the crisp air and blue sky that follows. But winter is cold, often frigid, dark, and sometimes it seems like spring is just so far away. One way to get through it is to get outside.  This is Snow Sculpting Week. For the past 15 years, I've made a winter beauty for my Happy Snow Days greeting card that goes out in December. Sometimes I plan ahead and make one in January or February for the following year. Other times I take a chance and hope for snow early in November or December ... and it's always worked out. Until it didn't.  For the first time in 15 years I didn't have a winter beauty for my winter greeting card. It was a mix of disappointment ... and relief. Every year I shiver at the thought of going outside to start another ... afraid I won't come up with anything as good as what I've done before ... worried I won't find the right materials or create the right expression. And it's cold.  Each one takes about two hours from start to finish.
I struggle with the thought of heading out into the cold and wring my hands and furrow my brow with concern. About halfway through, I have serious doubts. I take photos from the left and right to gain a better perspective ... to figure out what working, and what's not. Forage again for a different leaf, sprig, or twig to make the mouth right. Or the nose. My fingers get stiff with the cold and by the time I'm done, the cold has reached my core. Creating, making, and building things come with challenges. It's to be expected. With each winter beauty there was doubt, but when they were done, I felt a sense of accomplishment, glad I braved the cold and pushed aside my doubts. But I cannot ignore that sense of relief I felt when it didn't snow. So I've been mulling it over. ... will I make another, or have I done all I can do with them? How do you know when to stop? When persistence no longer applies. When walking away from a project you've enjoyed is the right thing to do? There's plenty of snow on the ground, but I'm not sure ...  December marks time like no other month.
Tomorrow the winter solstice brings us the shortest day of the year followed by the longest night ... and days later, the end of one year and the beginning of another. I’m thinking about how I can add light to my days and mark new beginnings. Not just new beginnings on the calendar, or the light from longer days, but the light and change that comes from doing things differently, seeing things in new light, and being curious. Last week we had a snow storm ... a big one. Most of us got anywhere from 18 - 24 inches. And as it so often happens, the next day it was glorious. Sunny and bright and fresh. After the storm, we took a ride ... uptown to State Street, left at Longfellow Square ... and there it was. A rainbow. Shimmering in the windblown snow hanging in the air. |
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