Friday, January 4, 2008

Winter Sunlight










I've tried so hard to photograph the weak winter sunlight as it washes in through the french doors in the dining room, barely kissing the dishes and crystal on the shelves with it's icy light. It catches the golden gleam of the dish rims and bounces off the facets of the crystal. All too soon, it is gone. Am I crazy, or is there a promise of spring in it's fickle light? I don't know, but I'd like to think so.



I find winter so hard to take. Some days I feel like a cat, following the sun through the rooms of the house -- morning: the library, afternoon: the dining room or the family room. It also pours in through the kitchen windows in late afternoon, highlighting every single speck of dust. I am not a fervent housekeeper at the best of times and right now, with this raging head cold, the dust is definitely winning. But still, the promise of spring implicit in that glorious light is the best tonic I know. So here I am, surrounded by a mound of dirty tissues and a half-empty cup of tea, dreaming of spring.





Are we there yet?


************


Edited to add:  OK, it's official -- I feel like sh**.   Pardon my language, but a sore throat, double earache, and pink eye in both eyes -- yuck!  Please forgive me, but I just won't be able to visit all of you for a few days.  Looking forward to seeing all of you again when I'm feeling better.   -- Mary

31 comments:

  1. Hang in there, Mary. I feel the same way you do. I always rejoice at the winter solstice knowing the days will be getting longer. Then, in January, the seed catalogs start coming and I can dream. I feel I am only treading water until Spring finally arrives.

    Hope that nasty cold resolves itself soon....hugs....rosie

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  2. Oh Mary, I am so with you! The day after Christmas, I swear I start pining for spring! When it gets dark at 5 p.m. I feel like going to bed right then and there. Ugh, what a waste of time! We have actually had a couple mornings of bright sunlight and that helps but not enough. I hope you feel better soon, sometimes the only thing to do is give in to the winter and sleep!

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  3. Love your photos (as usual), can't wait to stop homeschooling in a couple years and have room for a china dresser, and I'm sorry you have a lousy cold. But I do think you're a little crazy - it's still JANUARY. You can find spring in late-February sunlight, but I think it's the Nyquil talking at the moment. :) Hope you feel better soon, and hey, whatever gets you through the days. :)

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  4. Spring is Coming!!!! I know it is. I feel the same way. I work from home and my office is in the unfinished basement. No windows. Yikes!!! I bring my work up to our Dining room so I can soak up as much sun as I can. Well, off to the grocery store, I think I will linger at the cut flower display to remind me of Spring. Hope that cold leaves you very soon. Thanks for the beautiful pictures as always. Janie

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  5. Sorry, must of hit the wrong button. Didn't mean to sign as anonymous. Janie

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  6. Poor Mary...I'm so sorry for this illness. It can make one feel so damn rotten!
    I, too, wish Jan, Feb, March and April would just scoot on by and the spring would be here! Actually, since we have so many dust storms during our spring here in West Texas, I'd like to skip on to full blown summer!!
    Take care and rest!
    hugs, bj

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  7. I hope you feel better soon! This is the time of year that I struggle just to remain sickness-free! I loved the lovely crystal photos- especially the one looking into the glasses! I would just like a few days of sunshine to bake my bones.

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  8. Oh Mary..I enjoyed your photos BUT I do hope you feel better soon!!! And stay in the sunlight!
    Blessings,
    Robin

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  9. Oh I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Stay indoors and warm and drink lots of wonderful warm tea!

    ~~ Heidi ~~

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  10. Even though you feel like s***, you still manage to capture the simple elegance of how the light twinkles amongst your pretty pieces. I sure hope that you get to feeling better really soon. Just take care of yourself. We will be here and waiting for a healthy friend to bounce back!

    If I lived close by, I'd bring you a pot of hot tea and homemade chicken soup. Do you think it would travel well from California?

    Hugs,
    Becky

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  11. Bless your heart! I hope you feel better soon.

    Obviously, you need some more almond bark...did you forget about its healing powers....

    Fran

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  12. Oh no! Hope you have some "real" meds from the doctor. But Similasan makes an excellent product for pink eye. (http://www.similasanusa.com/)

    Feel better soon and then, when you do, I'll share how to revel in winter without yearning for spring...so much that is. LOL!

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  13. Just reread you post and caught you edit! You do have it bad, my dear.....gets lost of rest, drink lots of fluid....we'll miss you....get better soon!

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  14. I sure hope you get feeling better. Get lots of rest and you know they say Chicken Noodle Soup does the trick sometimes too! Sure wish all of us could bring some to you..... love your pics today- they are always so nice!
    Take Care,
    Stephanie

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  15. Oh Mary! and I thought things were rough here.. Snuggle up in the sunlight and try to get your rest. You poor dear.. :( I'd love to think that spring is coming soon, so I keep dreaming it.. each day does get alittle longer now.
    :) Abbie

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  16. Oh Mary, I am so sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly. I will add you to my prayers. It's going around my home too so I'm taking airborne and keeping my loved ones at arms length! I'm so ready for Spring. Your dishes are lovely and I adore your new header!

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  17. Oh Mary, sweetie I hope you feel better soon! Go rest, don't worry about the dust, it will no doubt wait for you! You know what's funny, I feel the exact same way about Winter coming as you do about Spring. Can't wait for it. I hate our long hot Summers! Hugs for you.
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

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  18. Hope you feel better soon. Keep following the sunlight. I started to say light but that sounded like you were passing away and I don't want you to do that.
    Let me pour you some more tea.
    Hugs,
    Nan

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  19. Hi Mary,
    So hope you feel better. So many co-workers are also ill. You still take great photos when you are feeling so badly. I so enjoy reading your blog. Thank you. A few more months of this cold weather...Feel better, Rosemary

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  20. Take care Mary, I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. I'm still not over my cold either and I'm SOOOOOOO looking forward to spring!
    xoxo
    Donna

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  21. I am sorry that you don't feel well, but your writing here is so lovely. I love how you describe the light and this time of year is always so hard with the holidays over and lots of cold weather before the entrance of Spring. Blessings, Karen

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  22. Sorry that your are feeling so under the weather ..... just keep snuggled up in a blanket, drink hot toddies and be cozy by the fire .... and yes! gardening magazines do help!

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  23. You poor dear. Praying for a quick recovery for you!

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  24. So sorry you are not feeling well. HOWEVER--Winter just began on DEC 21 (I THINK)--why are so many longing for Spring already!!! You are not the only blogger. Listen, I need some time to enjoy the little bit of winter we get here in SC. I use to live in CT and VT and loved the snow, cross country skiing etc. So here I like the invigorating walks in the 30 ish degree weather (which does not last long). I love bundling up , I love fires, I love hats and mittens; don't love colds of the nose however!! I love sitting in the sunshine of a window---love the winter birds and berries, love the winter flowers (pansies and camilias spelling?), love the seagulls coming inland, love my afgans and cuddling, love hot coffee, cocoa and marshmellows, love the winter sunsets, love how you can see through the trees in their bareness (hmmm--maybe I should post a blog on this!), love the masses of Canadian guess at our marina, love the smoke -y breath, love the grayish days, love the frost on the ground, love the ice in the birdbath, love the neighbors dogs chasing each other in circles because of their enrgy, love holing up and reading, love the presidential voting, love the Christmas candles still hanging around in people's windows, love well you get the picture. Your assignment is to write the things you love about winter and forget about spring for a while, girl! The crystal idea was a beautiful start!

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  25. pooweee I meant geese--not guess

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  26. Oh about the pink eye--only read this when you are feeling better!!--I was having trouble since October with my eyes--itching, aching, the lids were all inflamed and then I got a sty---and guess what!!! They told me I had ocular roseacia---that it would never go away!! They said it would fluctuate in its badness (my word)--so when it gets tooo bad I have antibiotics....but I have to live with it!!!YIKES and DOUBLE YIKES---so I know how you feel --in part. Plus I am fighting a sore throat now--my inlaw has strep!!! But other than that I still say a thumbs up for winter ;-)

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  27. Hope you are feeling better soon, Mary! May sunshine cheery you. :o) I'm longing for spring already. Here in Norway the winters can last long though, so we're just getting starting with the cold and snow *SIGH* I dream of sunshine and flowers...Be taking good care and get well soon ((HUGS))

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  28. Oh Mary, you poor dear. Hope you feel better soon! Thanks for sharing such nice pictures of the sun dancing on your pretties! Rest, and hope to see you back soon!

    Debbie from NJ

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  29. OH Mary..how icky..and at this time of year.

    Thanks for sharing the lovely pics of the sun
    on the dishes..just perfect!!
    deena

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  30. Mary, I'm sorry you are feeling so sh---y! I had something from Sept.to mid-Nov. could not shake the darn thing but FINALLY got well. Later this week check my blog cause I bought some pretties I think you will enjoy (Christmas cups and saucers for $2.00 each)!
    Here's to hoping you feel better soon - Judy

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