This past week was not my best, and I really have no explanation for it other than I was just in a bit of a slump, a slump without reason. Yes, the weather was cold and rather dreary. Yes, life was also rather busy and although there is nothing planned that was not anticipated, for a few days there I felt overwhelmed. Perhaps that was because I seemed to be in the throws of yet another sinus/congestion/allergy headache that just seemed to slow down my thinking and leave me drearily befuddled. It ended up not being allergies but one or the myriad viral things that get grouped together under the heading of having a "cold", and I am now well on my way to recovery. Pehaps it is just my clearer head, or yesterday's burst of sunshine, but things look brighter today.
I'll be busy for a few months though, and posting may continue to be erratic as I am working on several big projects that aren't really blog fodder at the moment. I am taking time however for handwork, for solitude, for savoring this earth and this life, and not being constantly driven to do. How that will play out in my posts is yet to be determined, but I will be here, and will post, hopefully not too erratically.
In the meantime, I have to small things to share. They are not significant, but each of them, in their own way brightens my days not because of what they are per se, but because they simply make me stop and smile.
Tikka and I walk by this stand of grass, and the tree with the lovely red berries every day on our walk. It is one of Tikka's favorite stopping places, and one of mine as well. There is not a lot of nature to be seen on our winter walk in my small housing development, and although planned rather than random, this little vignette offers a cheerful resting place before we tackle the last steep hill on the way home. The red berries offer a rare bit of color, and a promise that life is merely resting, that noursihment and rebirth will come. Every day I look at the same grass and the same berries, and every day my cold hands seem a little warmer and my spirits a little lighter, reminding me that is not the grand miracles that keep us going but the small moments of joy.
Although I can't really take those red berries with me everywhere, I can take this bright floral Vera Bradley tote andit has replaced my more practical, and boring neutral totes whenever I need books, laptop, and/or writing materials. Even when not in use, hanging on the closet door as shown here it brightens my office with its cheerful pink and red flowers, flowers that don't wilt, flowers that Sam won't eat. I am rediscovering the joys of pretty tote bags. It is true that my large leather tote is more versatile; it is also true that the row of functional LL bean totes in the closet holding various seasonal items may be more practical; but practical can be overrated. This makes me smile.
Comments
5 responses to “Little Bits of Color to Brighten the Winter Doldrums”
So pretty, and I think things that just make us smile are highly underrated for the most part. We need those little day brighteners every now and then. 🙂
Little bits of color are lovely. Get well soon:).
Don’t worry, but please do post when moved. You have shown how little bursts of colour and beauty reach us on many levels.
I read somewhere that contented aging is directly proportional to our ability to enjoy the small things in life, and I find that true, too.
Oh, I second Duchesse’s comments — I’ve been trying to attend to the small joys in life. Really, it sometimes seems to me that if we don’t recognize these little gifts, how/why can we deserve the larger ones. Thanks so much for sharing — that top photo is especially warming.
Hello, I saw your comment on Lisa’s blog, and liked your title for this post. When I lived in Ohio, spotting bright berries on walks was always a highlight–your photo made me nostalgic. I too admire vivid color indoors to cheer up drab weather; I find that I like it in hot weather also, because of its summery quality.
–Jim