Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Warming Winter Thoughts

Iridescent snow, light and airy, settled in on Saturday and then, said good-by with the morning sun. There was no snowman making, no shoveling, and little time to photograph nature's beauty. While the snow came as predicted, it silently departed during the night, leaving little to savor. To keep my thoughts of a whirlwind snowstorm fresh in my mind, I brought "outside in" with a winter scene by my fireplace.
I always decorate my home for each holiday or season. As vignettes are created, stories often emerge. Since Valentine's day is approaching I decided to focus on the beauty of a woodsy scene for my fireplace decor. Recalling a memory from the Northern Virginia nature trail, I recreated an encounter with a deer who stood quietly staring at the trees. Icy snow remnants crunched under his feet as he moved quickly away when I approached. Is he as cold as I? Am I frightened by him or he frightened by me?  
a story evolves
winter chill continues -
merging hearts needed
©CV, 2020

So, to add to my story, I added hearts around the house, many of which were handmade by mother.
winter peace fills my
house with reminders of love-
January warmth
©CV, 2020
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There's  always room for a story that can transport people to another place."
-J.K.Rowling
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It's Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers. Will you join me there?

12 comments:

  1. The photos, the winter scene you created inside of your home, and your poem are beautiful.

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    1. Stacey, thank you so much for stopping by and for that glorious comment. Feedback is always appreciated, especially when I worked for days to clean up my Christmas decorations and organize my rooms so there is a sense of calm and order. I still have messes down in my lower level and most times I can't even work at my desk due to clutter. I'm working at all of it, room by room.

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  2. Carol,
    I love the way you embrace winter and turn it into a warm embrace. We often have a few inches of snow that melts quickly. It’s my favorite because the melting is a sign the sun is shining. And I’m an underachiever in the decorating department. I’m lucky to get Christmas and fall decor up. I’m going to try to do better. You’ve inspired me.

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    1. Decorating has been part of my practice since my children were little. Although it is tedious getting everything out, it allows me to be creative as I find the right mix for each part of the room. I realized that the decorating is the way I write: choosing a theme, finding the right items to pair, and layering the look. Thanks for stopping by and try thinking of decorating as you do your writing. Bring on the creative spirit, Glenda.

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  3. It must be so calming to contemplate the deer gazing at the trees. It’s a lovely scene and story you created.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Diane. I just finished creating a Buncee as a follow-up to my blog post (https://app.edu.buncee.com/buncee/afef1e892e844c629d3a00fa45b16124). Have a great day. I am heading back to Reston, VA the first week of February to visit my new granddaughter and her big sister.

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  4. Oh, I love your words - "motionless contemplation," a beautiful capture of a special moment. My favorite has to be your last poem:
    "winter peace fills my
    house with reminders of love-
    January warmth"
    And how special that many of your hearts were handmade by your mother! January warmth indeed, and February's passion.

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    1. Thanks for joining me here to enjoy a bit of winter warmth indoors, Ramona. As I told Diane, I created a Buncee with a new poem. https://app.edu.buncee.com/buncee/afef1e892e844c629d3a00fa45b16124 I hope your weather is fine. It is still cool here but the sun is shining.

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  5. It is amazing how inches of snow one day are gone with the warming sun the next.

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    1. That seems to be the pattern here on Long Island this season. Today, we got a reprieve from the bitter chill. I still needed to weigh a hat, gloves, and winter jacket.

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  6. Looking at this makes me feel cozy. Like I've just wrapped up in a warm sweater, with a savory warm tea, and I'm watching the flicker of flames in the fireplace. The way you tell the story of your decor says so much inside of a beautifully silent moment.

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    1. Betsy, thank you for stopping by. I did not see your reply until today. Thanks for the warming thoughts. I am ready to have a savory warm tea this afternoon.

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