Nourishing the Body and Soul in Winter

 Montessori education tells us to surround ourselves with all things beautiful, 

taking care with selecting our environment.

Since my move to the new studio (dining room), 

and since my increased museum attendance, 

I "curate" my shelves, making order, selecting, arranging, re-arranging.

(The book, top right, The Secret Lives of Color, 

Box of cards by a company called Retrospect.)

 Top, from the local Bright Bird Studio. Below, a shrine box by 

local artist Micaela Grasse. (I placed the little sign inside the window that says, "Good Health".) 

 Watercolor painting on my wall by local artist Ben Hall.

I love that it's a local scene, & love its abstract quality!

 Twinkle lights were up in November. 

They and Bright Birds, shiny baubles, cheer me. 

Colorful woven bowl by a local artist, 

& original illustrations by artist Melissa Sweet 

(also local though nationally known.)

   On a recent cold, gloomy, gray day I bought a sampler of glitter, 

to spark my spirit,

at the art shop on Main St. 

 

It worked, & I've used it on my latest coptic book 

which I stitched while sharing tea with a visiting friend.

She knit & I stitched in my sunny warm dining room.

And we chatted while the cold winds blew.

 Feeding my body (organic wild blueberries & organic rice cereal, 

feeding my soul, with color & art tools.

Since January 1, I read & copy passages from the book, Simple Abundance, into my morning diary, 

using the French translation. The author is all about

gratitude, appreciating life, inner happiness...

 The Library Sketchers group, which I have turned over to the group to lead now, 

still nourishes my love of drawing, 

& feeds me with inspiration & comaraderie. 

Artist Leslie gave us a presentation on paint brushes. 

She generously brought gazillions, & let us experiment with them!  

(the other page: sketching without my glasses 

at my local hair salon, looking into a big mirror.) 

 Leslie's brushes! Talk about abundance!

 Saturday morning, my body & soul get nourished at our indoor Farmer's Market. All local vendors & it has a European feel! This time of year, New Beat Farm had carrots, beets, rutabegas, and cabbage. I sketched, 

then bought a bunch of organic carrots, later made a vegetable soup.

My friend has a lemonade stand, adding hot chocolate & cider at this time of year! 

More to show in another post, but, in short, 

to be at her stand for me is like being in the film, Pollyanna, so much good feeling, color & prettiness!

Many older folks go to Florida in winter, but I love finding

sparkle, light, & color right here. All the more intense, perhaps, against the backdrop of neutral winter grays, umbers, siennas, and muted dark greens of the out of doors. 

Question: What do you surround yourself with?