River Garden Studio

nestling in

 

I have had the best time here at home, nestling in... having long mornings in my jammies... sipping coffee and not eating breakfast until 11:00... when I finally get our bed made and the kitchen cleaned up it is already afternoon. Such bliss!!  

The anxiety and rushing around of getting ready for Christmas has left me ready for some peace and re-discovery. 

The other day, I found this deserted road that led out to the farm fields east of our home. 

 

 

It led to an abandoned shed.

Here there were no tracks in the snow, and then only mine...

and the warm sun on my face.

 

 

Images have been filling my mind and my studio...

 

 

 

They speak of this time and of this season.  

It is so sad to know that in a few years from now,

small sheds like this one will be gone forever from our landscapes.

 

 

 

Like all of you who are writers or artists at heart,

I am always searching.  

For a new perspective of images that are part of my life.  

A new way to remember the lake I drive by every day.  

A new way to savor the colors  of river trees and the lines of their reach.

A new way to photograph or paint a scene from my life.

 

Oh, we are having the most beautiful storms this winter!  

This is the road I take home.  

We live at the base of those mountains.  

My footprints are on these fields.

 

 

At home a feather catches the winter light.

 and I begin to work in my "Book of Frames,"  

a gift from the lovely Lynne.  

(actually the feather is a gift from Lynne too... she retrieved it from the edge of a pond while a huge swan stalked her!)

 These pages are called "the hour of listening ends."

 

 

I have added some new and wonderful blogs to my Places to Inspire on my side bar.  

Please check them out!

And I wish all of you an extra creative, productive and beautiful new year,

and thank you for how much richer you, with your art and your words,

have made my life.

 

 

taking my time

 

I have two weeks to just take my time...

 

to read beautiful words

 

 

and watch another snow storm blow in,

 

 

and stay and stay...

 

to see tiny bits of brown emerge

from the white-blue snow

that covers next years garden.

 

I will take my time,

and learn from my daughter.

Never stop reaching... 

 

 

I will take my time in making art, there might be whiteness outside

but inside there are reds and oranges and gold...

 

 

Sometimes in the winter I have to search for the colors.

But I will do that too.

 

 

I will take time to love my family,  

to notice the softer moments.

 

 and to daydream by the window.

 During these winter weeks and holidays,

I wish you time to daydream as well,

and to watch the snow fall.

softer light

The snows are melting and a softer light glazes the fields and the water.  Inside the colors are softer too.  I long for my winter break, but look forward to the week with my students, a week we can make art and not worry so much about academics!

 

I look down out a window to the back courtyard and new compositions appear.

 

 

And inside I find the colors I am searching for...

 

 

Chris is home from his first term away at college.  He glows with newness and achievement.

Still so thoughtful and sweet.

 

Outside the birds rest on the maple branches. Only a few leaves are left. 

 

And inside the plants love the muted winter light.

One flower reminds me that standing alone, even as it bends downward, it is still beautiful.

Outside there is calm.

For my daughter there are dreams...

Of love and family... memories float around like the winter breeze.

 

This is another view of the tapestry I photographed from my friends house last week. So many people asked or commented about it... it is from the Congo, bought in Winhoek, Africa by her husband in 2007.

And here is another collage, re-worked and hanging at Paschal Winery.  Lynne did a beautiful job of sharing the artwork from our show on her blog here.

 

Wishing you winter blessings and winter breezes to refresh your soul...