I have a friend who refers to winter as "the dark tunnel". Living on the 45th parallel, daylight begins around 7:30 am and ends around 4:15 pm. People turn to holiday lights, to alcohol, friends and religion to endure. It's time for those of us in the northern hemisphere to grab a duvet and escape into a good book in front of the woodstove. I'm trying to decide if I love winter or not. Certainly I needed a break after a strenuous year and that part is heavenly. I'm actually reading books again and getting my studio organized. But the mind works differently in the winter. Things can go bump in the night.
This is part of a sample I made this week for a class I'll be teaching next year. For the past two weeks I've been designing new classes and samples for 2009 and 2010. That has been a lot of fun and really satisfying.Head on over to Kelly's for a couple of winter martini recipes and a great photograph of her gorgeous smile. That lifted my spirits this morning. Put out suet and seeds for the birds if it's frozen where you are. We are expecting a long freeze in the Pacific Northwest and when that happens we try to keep warm water out for the birds and critters who will surely need it. Help each other and be of good cheer. xo
26 comments:
hey judy...
oh...i remember my two winters in astoria...what a beautiful area...but, i know what you mean! i learned to knit while there with some wonderful elderly women from scandinavian decent i believe. they were beautiful, sharing women. they knew how to wile away those cold days...and bake! cookies to die for! i'd move back to the northwest in a heartbeat. sending warm and cozy-ness wishes your way. mmmmmmm!
just lovely, judy...trying to settle into winter here, too. last night i worked in soft light in the studio. it was heavenly. looking forward to more winter nights like that one. take care!
Here's wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season in the chilly NW. Just got off the phone with family and they say they are in for a very cold week. Keep warm and stay inside with good books, your art and a warm fire. My brother just left Territorial Road on the 9th to go back to Houston. When I think of home in Canby which is often, I remember my new friend I made at Art Unraveled. Thinking all things bright and cheery inside for you Judy. Nancy
this reminds me of my winters in minneapolis, where the sun would start to set at 3:30 and disappear by 4:30. but interesting things brew in those long dark hours. the mysterious beauty in the second photo looks like she's a night lady, full of good ideas when the rest of the world is asleep!
you are so precious to give me a shout-out here. thank you, missus friend! i've got pitchers of martinis in the ice box downstairs. and a huge plate of seared ahi, cheeses, and potato pancakes with caviar at the ready. come on over, judy. i'd love to see these beautiful class samples life and in person. they are soul-stirring.
I always dreaded the long dark winters here and then I decided to embrace the thing I dreaded so much. Now winter is something I enjoy. I change gears and relish the long nights to do the things that I wouldn't think of doing when the light and sun are here.
beautiful pieces, judy!
yes, i am feeling the dark tunnel. i blogged yesterday about the need for brightness and light in our lives and how we have "to seek the light where it exists and spread the light where shadows loom." i like your message even better: help each other and be of good cheer." such a wonderful way to cope during the months of darkness.
Flip flops are my footwear of choice, so other than skiing in the rockies, which I love, give me June 21st, the summer solstice (and my daughters birthday :-)
Nice samples, Judy.
Book suggestion- I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.
These pieces are gorgeous !
Settling in to the dark tunnel here in New England too. I have to say - I know I hate winter. The thing is, living here, that is a whole lotta hating going on. I am really ready to try the idea of at least looking at it in a positive way and really enjoy and appreciate the cozy, duvet, stews, slippers, candles, sleepy parts of it. Now if I can just ignore the bumps in the night...
I'm righ there with you, judy and recently posted something similar asking for help from anyone who could maybe help me better freinds with winter....
today we will see high of 40 degrees here in wisconsin and tonight will drop to 2 !!
enough of that already !!!
anyhow, the one thing that is keeping me sane right now...me taking your class at VR~oh I can't wait for that !!!!
Winter is (sort of) my friend now that I've learned to accept her in all her harsh but magical guises. Having no heat in the house, however, is not so much fun! Stay warm in front of that fire, Judy, and enjoy. Those pages are so lovely and warm themselves!
(I feed birds and deer also. How can we not?)
We're in our summer but we are having wonderful much needed rain and it's quite cool for this time of year. Here in Melbourne we can have four seasons in one day. I love your new painting and I can't wait to see what your classes for Melbourne are.
Stay warm and cozy as you lighten the tunnel Judy.
I love all the seasons; though I can remember how bone deep cold I was after moving to WA 33 years ago. Think I wore turtlenecks for two solid years. Coming from central CA with temps up to 110 in the summers and dripping continuously, I thought I had gone to heaven when I moved to the coast. Then north to WA with the same glee. Now the wind, different story...scares the heck out of me when it topples the fir trees, but the rest I can embrace.
Life is such a grand gift; though some days require me to crank up my internal light to balance whats missing from the day, I'm always grateful its there if I dig a little. Hugs and hot soup, Chris
Lovely journal pages to look at while I am feeling cold bundled up in my own kitchen. could turn the heat up but am thinking of the bill. So trying to get by. Raining here. Not as cold as on the East Coast or even where you are.
My friends in Roseburg report snow.
Might you get some too?
I moved a year ago to sunny southern Alberta, the winters can be cold but it's always so sunny. Having moved from Vancouver, BC I can so relate to the dark tunnel so I'm sure loving the winters here. Still missing the coast though, just can't been spring, summer & fall there. I feed & water the birdies and stray cats all winter but it's dipped down to -18.4ºF this weekend so don't know how they do it, they're out there by my bird feeder singing away in the freezing cold. Stay warm & Merry Christmas! Laura
Ms. Judy -- I'm actually in bliss over here in Phoenix, where I'm having to wear a sweatshirt in my studio nowadays ... instead of dripping sweat down my derriere and between my non-existent boobies (quite a feat, but Phoenix can do it to a gal) ...
meanwhile, I'm launching into a new journal in about a week, a completely different size for me (from 8 1/2 x 11 to 11x14), and I just wanted to say that I keep turning to your blog, your journal pages, to remind me of the vision I have for this change. I want the immediacy of the visuals WITH the writing, which you accomplish in a way that is obvious, seamless, cohesive as he** for me as a viewer ... I can't say how much I appreciate you posting your pages. Such inspiration.
And here in Los Angeleeeeeeze, I am clam-like in my happiness at the cool, invigorating weather and the rare prospect of rain! This body is made for cooler climes....
You are SO CUTE!
Thanks for being psychic!
happy holidays!
your list of classes grows more and more interesting. if you need a one student class to demo them on let's meet at my digs in mexico. i'll be your guinea pig. oink oink slurp slurp
ANDALE PUES!
oh, how i used to hate winter... i dreaded it...as soon as november hit i took it so personally.... until recently... winter in VA is all shades of brown, somedays are 60 degrees and the sun is almost always out, and the days it isn't...well, how comforting they are, a good reason to cuddle up, settle in, tuck myself away in the studio, and not feel like i should be outside, cheery and bright! of course one of the main reasons we wanted to move here is to get away from the winter we knew... so many days of dreariness, harsh, long, white, quiet days.... amazing how i actually miss it as much as i do... perhaps you should come to VA to visit.... ;-)
xo
okay, finally having time to blog-surf propery, and look:
How can a page be any prettier? I love the second picture, also, so much! Are you preparing for the Valley Ridge class?
I know what you mean about winter. I have a love/hate with it. Which means... not exactly indifferent! I would love it to snow, but I can never seem to get completely warm around the toes and fingers...
Thanks for thots and pretty things.
I haven't been to your blog for awhile, I've been ill a long time and not doing much. Anyway, I've been trying to track down your email address and also anywhere you may be selling your art. Please let me know. I'm glad you're getting a chance for a rest, you seem to have been incredibly busy this year.
It is funny- but I go into hyper drive in the winter. My studio is so out of control that it has spilled all over the house- and I have plans for even more projects. I love warm drinks and a big fire- summer is actually a difficult time for me. Hey, is it time to go to Port Townsend yet??
Wow...A lot of people must go through "the Tunnel." (I just posted on the subject, too.) I wonder how many of the people that feel it are creatives?
I say, as long as we're walking in the dark, let's hold hands through it...
Hello Judy- Love your art work! beautiful pages. I,too, am in the PNW - thought that I had sidestepped all of the bugs floating around but got nailed over the week end. Winter is not my fave! Sunshine and warmth are my muse.
oh my Judy - scrolling through all this loveliness - and extraordinary blissful creative juice - feeding me - here also in a winter wonderland and moving the town studio home - coming home to HERE - oh you inspire and feed me so...
happy new year deLIGHTful friend
xox - eb.
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