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
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
A Lesson from a Squirrel on Winter Survival
The 3 S's : Squirrels, Snow and Supplies
This morning upon investigation I discovered a Squirrel in panic mode, rapidly gathering additional items for insulation for it's nest. The nest tucked high in an oak, swaying in the wind and honestly looking quite cold and unprepared for the approaching winter storm headed our way. The squirrels may soon be covered in snow. So how does this relate to your Creative Voice, Your Artistic Expression?
Take a closer look. The squirrels have been busy all summer and fall raiding my garden, consuming and hiding my apples and pears but very little effort has been spent reinforcing the nest. They have played and feasted for hours on end and have even napped on the back porch! And now today, they are searching for nesting materials. Very few choices are available this time of year, a few dried leaves here and there blowing in the wind. Snow and Ice are expected later this week.
Don't be like the squirrels. Be prepared for when your Inspiration Strikes. Maintain an adequate supply of Resources, Art Materials, Studio Space which is ready at a moments notice to be called for or secured for a sudden Creative Adventure. Consistently work towards your goals, honing your skills, strengthening your creative voice as you explore options and possibilities daily. If your time is limited, Doodle. If you are saving up for a large purchase of Art Supplies, Doodle. Doodling is an economical method of recording and exploring Creative Expression. Doodling can be 'controlled' in a small journal or notebook, or randomly released upon scraps of paper or fast-food packaging.
You are Creative. You are Artistic. Be prepared to release your next masterpiece and avoid being like a squirrel! Are you prepared for Cold Winter Days, are you prepared for Snow and Ice? Do you have your Art Supplies ready and waiting for 'action'?
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2019 Carol Lane Fleming
This morning upon investigation I discovered a Squirrel in panic mode, rapidly gathering additional items for insulation for it's nest. The nest tucked high in an oak, swaying in the wind and honestly looking quite cold and unprepared for the approaching winter storm headed our way. The squirrels may soon be covered in snow. So how does this relate to your Creative Voice, Your Artistic Expression?
Take a closer look. The squirrels have been busy all summer and fall raiding my garden, consuming and hiding my apples and pears but very little effort has been spent reinforcing the nest. They have played and feasted for hours on end and have even napped on the back porch! And now today, they are searching for nesting materials. Very few choices are available this time of year, a few dried leaves here and there blowing in the wind. Snow and Ice are expected later this week.
Don't be like the squirrels. Be prepared for when your Inspiration Strikes. Maintain an adequate supply of Resources, Art Materials, Studio Space which is ready at a moments notice to be called for or secured for a sudden Creative Adventure. Consistently work towards your goals, honing your skills, strengthening your creative voice as you explore options and possibilities daily. If your time is limited, Doodle. If you are saving up for a large purchase of Art Supplies, Doodle. Doodling is an economical method of recording and exploring Creative Expression. Doodling can be 'controlled' in a small journal or notebook, or randomly released upon scraps of paper or fast-food packaging.
You are Creative. You are Artistic. Be prepared to release your next masterpiece and avoid being like a squirrel! Are you prepared for Cold Winter Days, are you prepared for Snow and Ice? Do you have your Art Supplies ready and waiting for 'action'?
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2019 Carol Lane Fleming
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Night Skies
Long winter nights are the perfect setting for star gazing! The air is clear, the stars shine brightly as awestruck wonder fill the thoughts of those fortunate to view the masterpiece of the heavens. I could spend every moment of the night wrapped in warm blankets under the stars, gazing at the beauty of the constellations, the meteor showers, the Milkyway, a sparkling performance in the inky darkness we call night.
I often wonder on cold December nights about the size and color of the Christmas Star that guided the Wise men to Bethlehem. I wonder about the shepherds in the field under the starry night sky when the multitudes of angels suddenly appeared. And I continue to gaze up to the heavens basking in the glory of the skies as the stars sparkle twinkling in the night.
Wrapped in warm cozy blankets drinking hot cocoa celebrating the long winter nights.
Twinkle twinkle little stars!
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2017 Carol Lane Fleming
I often wonder on cold December nights about the size and color of the Christmas Star that guided the Wise men to Bethlehem. I wonder about the shepherds in the field under the starry night sky when the multitudes of angels suddenly appeared. And I continue to gaze up to the heavens basking in the glory of the skies as the stars sparkle twinkling in the night.
Wrapped in warm cozy blankets drinking hot cocoa celebrating the long winter nights.
Twinkle twinkle little stars!
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2017 Carol Lane Fleming
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! On this Beautiful Sunday Morning!!
May the Gift of Christmas be lavishly poured out upon you this day in ever increasing lavish overflowing abundance.
Enjoy this time with your family and friends and I shall see you in 2017!
Merry Christmas!
Carol
#freedfromboxes
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
May the Gift of Christmas be lavishly poured out upon you this day in ever increasing lavish overflowing abundance.
Enjoy this time with your family and friends and I shall see you in 2017!
Merry Christmas!
Carol
#freedfromboxes
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
First Day of Winter 2016
The arrival of winter brings much excitement! Will there be SNOW this year? The giddy delight and anticipation of SNOW brings out the child in many and in others~ the dreaded Cabin Fever!
While there is yet time to prepare for the arrival of cold winter days, use these lingering mild days to gather your supplies to ward off Cabin Fever. Listed below are 100+ Ideas to assist your planning of Fun Creative Adventures throughout the Long Cold Winter ahead.
While there is yet time to prepare for the arrival of cold winter days, use these lingering mild days to gather your supplies to ward off Cabin Fever. Listed below are 100+ Ideas to assist your planning of Fun Creative Adventures throughout the Long Cold Winter ahead.
100+ Ideas and Cures for Cabin Fever
1.Long Winter Nap
2. Read your favorite book
3. Watch football play offs
4. Watch a movie
5. Play board games
6. Play cards
7. 1000 piece puzzles
8. Spring Cleaning Early
9. Crafts or hobbies
10. Bake Cookies
11. Plan a party
12. Write letters to send to friends and family
13. Make Valentines Cards to send to shut ins
14. Phone Home
15. Doodle, draw or paint
16. Design a new flowerbed or vegetable garden
17. Order seed catalogs
18. Steamy cups of cocoa, hot tea or coffee
19. Clean out closets
20. Make plans for your summer vacation
21. Knit or Crochet
22. Sew a new wardrobe
23. Start a quilt
24. Build a snowman
25. Bake a cake
26. Redecorate a room in your house
27. Go for a snowy walk
28. Organize your photos
29. Visit your next door neighbor
30. Eat sleep and be merry
31. Books on tape
32. Online shopping
33. Watch an entire tv series
34. Snowy photography
35. Write a book
36. Mop the kitchen
37. Create a Bucket List
38. Take down all of your Christmas decorations
39. Explore New Career Options
40. Research local charities to support in 2017
41. Watch Critter Cams
42. Experiment with new recipes
43. Catch up with old friends online
44. Memorize a poem or Bible verses
45. Play a musical instrument
46. Exercise
47. Prepare your tax return
48. Feed the birds
49. Play charades
50. Learn a new dance
51. Pull out all of your crayons, markers and colored pencils and Color
52. Snow painting
53. Cold Weather Science Experiments
54. Origami
55. Cut out designer paper snowflakes
56. Play Scrabble
57. Legos are a ‘must’
58. Build a blanket fort
59. Water all of your houseplants
60. Make paper airplanes
61. Learn the art of Calligraphy
62. Picnic in the snow [or favorite room]
63. Sort change and roll coins
64. String beads
65. Read your favorite book out loud [in characters]
66. Create a year in advance family fun~days calendar
67. Get a head start on hand crafted Christmas Gifts
68. Write Winter themed Haiku
69. Learn to ‘say’ the alphabet in American Sign Language
70. Create a collection of your favorite quotes
71. Memorize all of the States and State Capitals
72. Time how quickly a pot of boiling water will freeze solid outdoors
73. Create eclectic weavings from items around the house
74. Play checkers
75. Try a new hairstyle
76. Make a list of your 10 best friends and see how many words can be created from the letters in their names
77. Sing LOUD with your favorite CD
78. Try walking backwards through your house without touching anything or falling down
79. Memorize all the Presidents and Vice Presidents in order of their years in service
80. Learn to write in ‘mirror~writing’ [backwards and in reverse]
81. What is your wildest dream? Write the steps you need to take to obtain your dream
82. Identify animal tracks in the snow
83. Invite all the neighborhood children over for a playdate
84. Host a Soup Party for the neighborhood
85. Create Ice Sculptures
86. Build Fairy Houses to be placed in your garden in the Spring
87. Paint a self portrait
88. Update your address book
89. Decorate boiled eggs for lunch
90. Create a list of everything and everyone you like
91. Have a Tea Party
92. Give yourself a manicure
93. Write, Draw and Eat all day using your non-dominate hand
94. Research your favorite animal
95. Make friendship bracelets for each of your friends
96. Go on a scavenger hunt
97. Make sock puppets and have a puppet show
98. Write a Thank you note to your favorite teacher
99. Create a collage of your favorite winter activities
100.Make a fingerprint zoo
101. Wear your dressiest clothes and Sparkle
What is YOUR favorite way to fight Cabin Fever?
~Carol #freedfromBoxeshttps://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
2. Read your favorite book
3. Watch football play offs
4. Watch a movie
5. Play board games
6. Play cards
7. 1000 piece puzzles
8. Spring Cleaning Early
9. Crafts or hobbies
10. Bake Cookies
11. Plan a party
12. Write letters to send to friends and family
13. Make Valentines Cards to send to shut ins
14. Phone Home
15. Doodle, draw or paint
16. Design a new flowerbed or vegetable garden
17. Order seed catalogs
18. Steamy cups of cocoa, hot tea or coffee
19. Clean out closets
20. Make plans for your summer vacation
21. Knit or Crochet
22. Sew a new wardrobe
23. Start a quilt
24. Build a snowman
25. Bake a cake
26. Redecorate a room in your house
27. Go for a snowy walk
28. Organize your photos
29. Visit your next door neighbor
30. Eat sleep and be merry
31. Books on tape
32. Online shopping
33. Watch an entire tv series
34. Snowy photography
35. Write a book
36. Mop the kitchen
37. Create a Bucket List
38. Take down all of your Christmas decorations
39. Explore New Career Options
40. Research local charities to support in 2017
41. Watch Critter Cams
42. Experiment with new recipes
43. Catch up with old friends online
44. Memorize a poem or Bible verses
45. Play a musical instrument
46. Exercise
47. Prepare your tax return
48. Feed the birds
49. Play charades
50. Learn a new dance
51. Pull out all of your crayons, markers and colored pencils and Color
52. Snow painting
53. Cold Weather Science Experiments
54. Origami
55. Cut out designer paper snowflakes
56. Play Scrabble
57. Legos are a ‘must’
58. Build a blanket fort
59. Water all of your houseplants
60. Make paper airplanes
61. Learn the art of Calligraphy
62. Picnic in the snow [or favorite room]
63. Sort change and roll coins
64. String beads
65. Read your favorite book out loud [in characters]
66. Create a year in advance family fun~days calendar
67. Get a head start on hand crafted Christmas Gifts
68. Write Winter themed Haiku
69. Learn to ‘say’ the alphabet in American Sign Language
70. Create a collection of your favorite quotes
71. Memorize all of the States and State Capitals
72. Time how quickly a pot of boiling water will freeze solid outdoors
73. Create eclectic weavings from items around the house
74. Play checkers
75. Try a new hairstyle
76. Make a list of your 10 best friends and see how many words can be created from the letters in their names
77. Sing LOUD with your favorite CD
78. Try walking backwards through your house without touching anything or falling down
79. Memorize all the Presidents and Vice Presidents in order of their years in service
80. Learn to write in ‘mirror~writing’ [backwards and in reverse]
81. What is your wildest dream? Write the steps you need to take to obtain your dream
82. Identify animal tracks in the snow
83. Invite all the neighborhood children over for a playdate
84. Host a Soup Party for the neighborhood
85. Create Ice Sculptures
86. Build Fairy Houses to be placed in your garden in the Spring
87. Paint a self portrait
88. Update your address book
89. Decorate boiled eggs for lunch
90. Create a list of everything and everyone you like
91. Have a Tea Party
92. Give yourself a manicure
93. Write, Draw and Eat all day using your non-dominate hand
94. Research your favorite animal
95. Make friendship bracelets for each of your friends
96. Go on a scavenger hunt
97. Make sock puppets and have a puppet show
98. Write a Thank you note to your favorite teacher
99. Create a collage of your favorite winter activities
100.Make a fingerprint zoo
101. Wear your dressiest clothes and Sparkle
What is YOUR favorite way to fight Cabin Fever?
~Carol #freedfromBoxeshttps://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Christmas Decorating is it a Science or an Art?
When do you begin decorating for Christmas?
I have friends that begin decorating in October and others that don't even consider decorating until December 18th! Personally, I'm not sure how to answer the question~ I've just noticed a fully decorated Christmas Tree that has remained on my mantle displayed for over a year! How have I not seen this tree until today??? Is it okay with you if I pretend that I just put it up for this season?
Are you a traditionalist when decorating, using reds and greens or silver and blues as your palette? Or do you work with the more vibrant colors of pinks, aqua, lime and purples? What about ornaments and other decorations~ Do you use handcrafted ornaments or those you have purchased?
Today I am filled and overflowing with questions it seems.
Below is a set of questions to propel us into the Christmas Season.
1. When do you begin decorating?
2. Do you decorate every room in your home?
3. What color palette[s] do you use when decorating for Christmas?
4. Do you use all of your ornaments every year?
5. Real tree vs artificial tree, which do you prefer?
6. Christmas lights: inside? outside? colors? or all white?
7. Do you collect specific types of Christmas ornaments or decorations?
8. Do you use a Nativity in your Christmas decor?
I'm off to the attic, the closets and under the beds in search of Christmas decorations! Thinking I will go 'simple' this year, that is until the Christmas Bug bites and then....who knows what will happen! Only 24 days until Christmas, I'd better get busy!
I need some ideas for the front porch this year~
How are you decorating your entry?
Carol
#freedfromboxes
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
I have friends that begin decorating in October and others that don't even consider decorating until December 18th! Personally, I'm not sure how to answer the question~ I've just noticed a fully decorated Christmas Tree that has remained on my mantle displayed for over a year! How have I not seen this tree until today??? Is it okay with you if I pretend that I just put it up for this season?
Are you a traditionalist when decorating, using reds and greens or silver and blues as your palette? Or do you work with the more vibrant colors of pinks, aqua, lime and purples? What about ornaments and other decorations~ Do you use handcrafted ornaments or those you have purchased?
Today I am filled and overflowing with questions it seems.
Below is a set of questions to propel us into the Christmas Season.
1. When do you begin decorating?
2. Do you decorate every room in your home?
3. What color palette[s] do you use when decorating for Christmas?
4. Do you use all of your ornaments every year?
5. Real tree vs artificial tree, which do you prefer?
6. Christmas lights: inside? outside? colors? or all white?
7. Do you collect specific types of Christmas ornaments or decorations?
8. Do you use a Nativity in your Christmas decor?
I'm off to the attic, the closets and under the beds in search of Christmas decorations! Thinking I will go 'simple' this year, that is until the Christmas Bug bites and then....who knows what will happen! Only 24 days until Christmas, I'd better get busy!
I need some ideas for the front porch this year~
How are you decorating your entry?
Carol
#freedfromboxes
https://whatboxacreativelife.blogspot.com/
#HiddenInYourheART
© 2016 Carol Lane Fleming
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