A couple days ago the shortest day passed by...the "watershed of the year", as Vita Sackville-West called it. Now we can look forward to the gradually lengthening days as winter officially arrives. It's a long, slow process, this getting through dark, damp and dreary days, but here in Oregon, the signs of spring are already evident.
Daffodil shoots are already a couple inches high, and instead of dying down completely the perennial flowers have thick rosettes of new leaves at ground level as if they are eager to head towards next summer's prolific bloom. The filbert/hazelnut trees are covered with a thick dusting of catkins promising a more abundant crop next year. Camillias are in full bloom at elevations lower than we are.
Like these lengthening days (today will be 11 seconds longer), life sometimes has to be taken in baby steps too, instead of those giant leaps we often choose to take. Change brought on by challenge is in the end a positive...but the getting to the other side can take every ounce of effort. This year was one of loss (of my son-in-law) balanced by gain (new granddaughter Geneva, lots of new art, and deepening relationships with loved ones).
Today I'll be back in the studio for the first time in a week, looking through some newly acquired items from the bin trip yesterday, temporarily packing away some things that have sat for too long, and attempting to free up some wall space so I have a place to work. In a few days, grandson Jake will be here again and treehouse work (siding) will continue.
I hope your holiday finds you in a place of peace and comfort with those you love!
(Untitled piece, copyright Diane Lou. Just added the "cage" part in the past week.)
Go Getter
7 months ago