Jan 12, 2011

a garden in the snow

I don't know about all of you, but I live where it is cold and gray at this time of year.  And snowy.  And did I mention gray? 

Usually, I am okay with it all.  I  love snow.  I love being snowed in, hot mugs of tea, cozy blankets and fireplaces.

Recently, I read this post from Jen Shaffer about finding color in the gray days.  It got me thinking.  My art is so full of color and so is my house.  As you walk into my home, the breezeway is painted blue, the kitchen is red, the dining room is yellow, the living room is green.  

Maybe I like to surround myself with all of this color to balance out the gray skies.  Color helps me to feel happier and uplifted.  I'm curious, if you live where it is dark and cold,  how do you get through the winter?

20 comments:

Karin van D. said...

For years I tried to deny that it was winter. I hated the cold, the grey skies, the cold and did I mention the cold? But it didn't really help. Every winter I felt a bit down and grey myself, just waiting and wishing for better weather to arrive.

But not anymore! I have a new tactique: I dive into winter with all that is in me. I embrace the sweaters and blankets. I place pillows and candles everywhere. I bake with lots of cinnamon, so the whole house smells like a cozy wintery cabin. And even though I still have cold feet and hands all the time and I don't like that, I do find more and more charm in this season. Some day I might even start to love it...

Teresa O said...

I'm one of those strange snowbirds that loves colder weather, gets excited when the snow falls, and finds beauty in the outstretched bare branches of trees outlined against the sky. I live where seasons change and wouldn't have it any other way. Yep, it's gray, but there's still sunny, blue sky days and crisp clouds in white overhead. When the chill seeps into my bones, I toss another log on the fire, layer clothing, light candles, bake, sip on anything hot, and sigh like a contented cat.

I keep the winter blues at bay by getting out and galivanting about.

Have a wonderful day!

Kim Klassen said...

oh my goodness, soooo love your art today Lori...

beautiful.
and i would love to visit your happy, colorful home. :)

okay I am most happiest when the sun is shining... but I do love a gray day for taking pics...especially with snow as the backdrop.
And I love the hibernation part of winter... mainly cause I'm a total home body....

right now with Ben unable to take long walks on the trail I am really feeling the winters blahs....but I am trying to appreciate the moment...remembering the days when it has been so cold...and the last thing I wanted to do was go to the trail....but had to... for my doggy.... and appreciating the break. :)

perhaps I need to get my fav pastels out....and add a little color to the page today.

thank you for your inspiration... so happy to see you here this morning!

xxo, kim

dbalyoz said...

ah...winter. greys and greens and whites and browns. luckily for me I love these natural colors. However, I struggle with the lack of light here in the UK. How do I get through??? Hmmm...lots of cups of tea and warm sweaters. and following my camera. Happy winter! :)

Jill said...

Could certainly use a little color around here too...thank you!

Prairie Girl Studio said...

i can only imagine how wonderfully cheery
with colour your home is, lori!
the thought brings me sunshine! : )

but sometimes the gray days can creep in and we need to be creative to carry on! i love everyone's previous comments and i am guessing this topic is on everyone's minds as we shovel our way through to spring. in fact, i had this same 'conversation' with gigi over at the magpie's fancy just yesterday!

i love winter ~ i need to be out in it every day and find it invigorating to dress and go out for a walk, a ski or shovel, sweep and scoop! if i don't go out, then i tend to not want to go out ... once i am there i am so taken with the beauty of the tones of whites, blues, browns and even the grays ...
stepping back to the warmth of our home is sublime ... and i feel refreshed and alive!

thanks for sharing this most beautiful
cheery garden in winter ...
and as i said to gigi ~ turn your face to the sun
and the lengthening days ~
xo
pg

abby jenkins said...

funny, when I awoke this morning to another blanket of downy white show I was inspired to do a post on all things white...

The sun is just coming out now and the skies are turning blue, time for me to get out and take some more photos. Hmm...blue this time...blue skies, my mothers blue dutch oven on the stove top bubbling with chicken stock, Cheddar's blue water bowl...

I'll be back!

Anna said...

Lori,
Love your colorful art! I find winter very beautiful, but the lack of sunlight is hard on me. So, to remedy this the walls of our home are painted a glowing creme and decorated with colorful quilts. Adding rich colored furnishings and artificial light help to brighten up the season. Walks and skiing with a friend let me soak up the quiet winter light.

pve design said...

We manage to "ski" through winter so it does help to be outdoors, to get lots of air and to add colors to my daily life, a poppy scarf, a honeysuckle sweater....
pve

kelly@thebluemuse said...

I love winter, love snow days, being forced to stay inside and do quiet, reflective things. but i crave the color green as the winter drags on, I forcet paperwhite narcissus bulbs, and then start seeds for my garden, both help me satisfy that craving.

kelly@thebluemuse said...

p.s., love your painting by the way!

Pat Mark said...

Love the bright beautiful painting. I needed color. Winter in my part of Oregon is usually gray and wet, as it is today. I don't mind when it snows since it is so pretty and I don't have to drive in it. I was just thinking of color this morning and decided to get my colorful "Fiesta" dishes out for a photo shoot. Thanks for the inspiration. pat

Marcie said...

I especially love winter..but do miss the 'color' of the landscape. For fun - I've been 'playing' in the snow..creating imaginary scenes. Creating unlikely color...and just having an all-round great time:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1422

Love your painting. So full of sun-filled joy!

Unknown said...

This greyness gets me down too. I light candles and curl up in warm blankets with a good book and some coffee. Mmmm....

Lori said...

I was away all day (driving on scary snowy roads!) and came home to all of your wonderful comments! Thank you so much! I learned a lot here :) xoxo

Jamie said...

I added a bunch of color to my office this year to combat the mean greys in the winter - it is working

Olga said...

I love the way you use colors. I get through the winter with a help of the green tea and my art.

Effy said...

Oh, I so love this. I caught myself gazing miserably out the front window at the black and white photograph winter has made of my view today. The view I found here is much nicer. :)

ELK said...

a wonder filled garden of joy .. i always need some sunshine to get by ..luckily Texas delivers that!!

Mariel Proulx said...

I know exactly what you mean... I usually don't mind the snow and cold. I actually love to sit out in a patio chair in heavy spells and feel completely enveloped in a plush cushion of snow and cozy darkness. Taking the dog out is a job I claimed specifically because I love to be on the outside, looking in to a snow-cushioned, glowing, homey-looking house.

But the past week was a little too much for me. I ended up changing around rooms. That's how I cope with winter blahs... or any kind of "funk," really. I will suddenly get a wild hair and re-create a room to be the most I can possibly get out of it.

And my new sewing room IS pretty cheerful! I have my ribbons, fabrics, bauble box (pretty vintage brooches) and various beautiful things on display. I have a colorful dish of dark chocolate Valentine's M&Ms in a crystal bowl to satisfy the occasional sweet tooth. My best friend's artwork is on the wall and my children's pictures are strung on a clothesline with other bits of inspiration for me.

-All typed from my cozy, brocade and orange velvet, flea market armchair. Haha. This new room will give me enough OOOmph! for weeks... and then, I'm not sure which room will be on my radar. ;)

My daughter informed me, this morning, that we'll have 13 more weeks of winter. Arrrrggggghhh- but she's only six... I won't blame her for that. :P