Do you have January-itus too?

I'm currently pinching myself! Quite possibly I have found my groove for writing or at least until the weather turns warmer and Spring returns to my garden. The first light of day and the following 2 - 3 hours are delightful in the garden. There are days, I wander out bare foot, in anticipation of the sunrise, to enjoy the increasing light and listen to the morning. But not in January.

It's not a true cabin fever, more like January-itus. Waiting on snow, the emergence of snowmen through out the neighborhood, lazily reading by the fire and savoring snow days.
January-itus is a time for mapping and planning vacations, spring plantings, exploring local galleries or museums, baking, reading seed catalogs, sewing, painting basically anything to create a distraction as I wait for the first icy crystal snowflake to fall in January.

Today I will continue to write, the book is coming along nicely. I will paint, well maybe not, as it is a painting of a snowy winter street scene. Possibly I shall quilt, I need a new Spring Picnic Quilt, dreaming of warm sunny days is certainly a distraction from snow. Disclaimer, there is no snow in our forecast for today, however, this weekend we may have Snow! I'm just hoping for long walks in a snowy winter wonderland. Maybe, I should Doodle snowflakes.

How do you anticipate the arrival of snow?
Do you gather Art Supplies, Books, Movies, mountains of Snacks and Comfort food?
Are you constantly checking the weather on you phone or social media contacts?




https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2019 Carol Lane Fleming

Hurricane Michael

We survived Hurricane Michael's fury! We never lost power which was a blessing! We had tons of rain and wind yet, No Damage which was a miracle!!! So many individuals and families have lost so much in the Hurricanes this Fall, it is difficult to comprehend the destruction and the enormous task of recovery efforts ahead.

Praying for all may your recovery multiply your losses 100 fold! You shall rise from these storms and be stronger and better than before.

God Bless each and every individual throughout this recovery and restoration.

https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2018 Carol Lane Fleming

Time for a New Umbrella

April showers sometimes require an umbrella when darting about dodging puddles. Sprinkles and gentle showers I can manage and even enjoy the splatter of raindrops upon my face. There are times when heavy down pours of flooding rains fall, I will sing and dance splashing every puddle, but not in 'public'. Out in 'public' I have been seen walking slowly using an umbrella in pouring rain, like an 'adult'. Gasp! Rain is for dancing, splashing and singing, a joyful celebration of delight which is the problem I am facing. Have you seen the umbrellas lately? All dark and drab. So ..............

I purchased the largest umbrella available, along with lots of brightly colored paint, brushes and stampers. Soon the dark drab sad umbrella will be transformed into a bright and cheerful work of art. And my old umbrella will be recycled and presented as a gift to my garden as a new Sweet Pea trellis.

Life is too short to avoid splashing in puddles, dancing and singing in the rain. 

Oh how quickly you have grown!

It has been a week since I have been able to play in the garden. What a surprise! Weeds have invaded along with the deer who left foot prints and nibbled plants scattered across the yard. Did I mention the weeds? They were not there last week. How do they take root and grow so quickly?

At first, I was a bit undone by the sight of the weeds towering over the vegetables and flowers in the garden. One week is all it took for the alien invasion to totally transform the appearance of the backyard. I stood, I stared, I may have grumbled and stared some more, I tried counting the varieties, more grumbling and then I remembered my camera, my paint and my canvas. After all, weeds come in different sizes, shapes and colors and some are even edible, right? Then the quote came to mind, the quote that always results in an attitude adjustment: "Weeds are Plants dealing with Unhappy People".

I quickly put on my happy face, only removing the weeds that were choking out my original plantings and left the others in their new home. Why? Well, I never want to be accused of being an unhappy grumpy person. And seriously, some of the blooms on the weeds are gorgeous! I spent most of the morning with camera in hand capturing the colors, the blossoms, the butterflies. Currently, the plan is to spend my afternoon in the garden painting, En Plein Air.

https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2017 Carol Lane Fleming

Puddle Jumping

April showers bring mud puddles, rainbows and May flowers! I love Spring rain showers.
The low rumbles of thunder, the flashes of lightening and the rush of wild wind as the storms race across the country side. I love the sound of the Spring Creepers chirp celebrating the arrival of rain and the emergence of the box turtles when the rain is gone.

I enjoy watching the water collect into puddles and waiting for the arrival of the birds. Rushing to be the first to splash and bathe in the Spring rains as if in celebration that winter is over and warm sunny days are just around the corner. However, more than anything else, is the excitement of jumping and splashing in the first mud puddles of Spring. Mud splattered and soaking wet surrounded by cheers and joyful laughter. Spring has finally come to my garden.

Soon, many hours of my days will be spent painting En Plein Air, between the flowerbeds or resting in the shade of the apple trees, as an excuse to avoid weeding or mowing. Spring! I'm so looking forward to feeling the mud squishing between my toes.

https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2017 Carol Lane Fleming