Daniel noticed the first sign of spring daffodils on Sunday evening. This tiny bulb is braving snow right now; I hope it can manage.
Other images: wooden curly cue on fallen branch; fresh snow on leaves; spindly branches in fog
extras
Tag: winter
one word photo challenge: neon
For this week’s challenge, I focused on bright spots amid the gray rather than on authentic neon tones. Still, I think I came pretty close. My instagram photo depicts the quaint yellow building in which I reunited with my friend, Taylor, for country cookin’ before thrift shopping in Ruckersville. The DSLR photo, taken in the back yard with my 50 mm lens, is a partially eaten rotting tangerine that Daniel threw in the yard hoping to attract wildlife.
If you’d like to participate in the one word photo challenge, visit my sister’s blog.
instaround.
The sun was shining earlier so I decided it was high time for a walk around the neighborhood, but by the time I got home and ate lunch, it was cloudy and the temperature had begun to drop.
I’ve been playing a bit with instagram since I got an iPad Mini for Christmas. The above photos were taken today and yesterday. The quality’s sub par, of course, but it gives me a chance to catch moments and places I’d otherwise miss since I don’t like lugging my DSLR around with me every day.
leaves & berries
Tiptoeing around the backyard squishing muddy earth into the ridges of my boots seemed like the best thing to do on this quiet Christmas Eve Eve afternoon.
The town is bustling with holiday vacationers, but no one thought to plan any last minute events. I’m going to try to convince Daniel to eat popcorn and watch a few movies with me.
black & white
Black and White film is as close as you can get to encapsulating nostalgia. Photos from late summer in Florida and winter in Charlottesville.
unrelated statements
Sorry for the silence this week. I’ve been stuck inside and haven’t felt particularly inspired to write anything. We had two inches of snow on Friday, but my camera battery died. I ventured out in the evening with my film camera instead. I’m sure I’ll be pleasantly surprised by whatever I captured 6 or 7 months ago on the beginning of the roll when I go get it developed later this week.
I got in a minor car accident last weekend and have been anxiously awaiting the verdict so that I can move past the whole, stupid event.
As I’ve repeated here, I’ve been feeling melancholy for several weeks, likely due to the cold, sometimes dreary, weather. At the women’s small group I attend, one asked why we insist on running our lives at the same, steady rate in the winter months when other mammals take a break. That question and subsequent conversation helped me calm the inner voice that told me I wasn’t trying hard enough. The fact is that I’m cold and I feel under the weather almost every day. I need to give my body a break. As a result of that breakthrough, I’ve experienced a better, more efficient week overall.
I also bought a tea kettle. I’m addicted to its steam whistle and have been having a nice cup of earl grey every afternoon.
We attended our church group’s monthly potluck last night. As always, I found myself inspired and greatly amused by the various conversations in which I partook. Each time I get to know someone a little bit better. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to socialize in a low stress setting. I needed it.
Today I plan on listing several items on ebay and etsy, so keep a lookout.
I hope you have a nice Sunday and a satisfying week.
month in review: January ’13
January flew by despite being full of ups and downs. The weather was cold, then hot, then cold again, and my brain chemicals didn’t know how to react. I was really hard on myself for being lazy and depressed, but I came out of it and now I’m on an emotional upswing.
This month, I (and sometimes Daniel):
- attended two concerts at Mockingbird before it closed down
- reached out to a band about joining them as a vocalist
- contacted a local photographer to look into assistant opportunities
- started a Fair Trade blog; I’m really proud of it
- witnessed a friend’s marriage dissolve
- went on several walks (one, two, three, four)
- became obsessed with Trader Joe’s (that’s worn off a bit now)
- attended a swing dance lesson and Sock Hop
- took a lot of photos
- survived a couple snow days
- attended a game night
- started modeling for my online shop
- experienced record sales at my online shop
- wrote three poems
- finished decorating the library
- got the mullet trimmed off my outgrown pixie cut
- felt insignificant
- felt proud
- watched a lot of The Wire
- wore many layers
- was almost always cold
- bought a digital scale for mailing orders from home
- talked to some llamas
- visited many thrift stores
- nurtured new friendships
How’d I do with my 4 Simple Goals?
- Grow my online business: things have been looking up. I use new bookkeeping software that helps me keep track of fees, purchases, and revenue.
- Put money in savings every month: I should be able to do this as soon as I deposit my paycheck.
- Buy fair trade/ second hand as often as possible: I think I’ve stuck to this.
- Travel to a new place: we visited an antique mall in Ruckersville; that kind of counts.
Hope you had a fun, productive first month of the year.
snow day
Every morning I open the bedroom curtain just a bit to let more light in to do my makeup. This morning, I looked out and exclaimed, Oh my gosh!, waking up Daniel on accident. A blanket of snow covered every horizontal surface, including my car. They predict another snowfall this evening. Tomorrow may be my lucky day for capturing snow in action!
by a different route
or, Why Walks are the Best
After taking Daniel to school on Monday afternoon, I looked about me on the drive home and realized suddenly that it was a beautiful day. We had about a week and a half of weird, dreary weather; it messed with my mood – everything felt stagnant. But Monday was cold and dry and crisp. The winter sun was at its brightest and the leaves and houses shone with its glaring light. I walked, this time, by a different route and felt refreshed. And at night, I looked up and saw Orion as clearly as if it were beaming out from a constellation chart.
Enjoy the winter light while it lasts.
walks
It seems we’re addicted to walks, at least during this curiously warm week in the quiet days before regular life demands our attention again.
On Monday, I went for a walk by myself to clear my head, twisting and turning through residential roads. There’s been some drama – and some loss – in my circle of friends and I let it get to me. But walking is meditation. You go and you go on your own two feet. You’re tired but you keep moving. You’re farther away than you ever intended to be, but you have the stamina to press on. To compel yourself forward even when your legs grow tired and the sun glares into your eyes as it sets. Walking is uncomplicated, but not necessarily easy. I think that’s the best way to live.
backyard
I haven’t been able to get out much lately. Between being poor, the weather looking like the above every other day, and Daniel being bogged down with schoolwork, we’ve been hesitant to get out there and enjoy the Virginia landscape. But I’m pleased to tell you that even our meager, rented backyard holds treasures: a pebble-encrusted walkway, a rotting pumpkin, mangled vines, and a bit of yellow in the neighbor’s yard.
end of season
We’ve heard a lot about Carter Mountain during the last few months. The orchard opens to tourists when apples are ripe for harvesting in the early fall. Most apples have been picked by this time of year, but we thought we’d take the trip anyway (it’s only 10 minutes away from our house) since Andrea was in town.
The view was more extraordinary than I expected so close to home and we all had a lovely time walking through the orchard (but the hike back up to the parking lot was torturous). We collectively picked one apple as a souvenir. I still haven’t eaten it. It’s probably going bad!
Leah Wise 