Sidetracked Artist

The first part of 2012 seemed to move so slowly.   Or maybe it just dragged along because I find the weather here during winter and most of spring to be so miserable.   The seemingly never ending cold, rainy weather results in way too much time spent indoors, for me at least, as I have so little cold tolerance now.   I used to enjoy skiing and sledding, but now I experience cold as pain, and even when bundled up from head to toe, being out in cold weather is a painful experience.   Fortunately, this will likely be our last winter here in Bellingham . As I mentioned earlier this year, Fred’s employer will be closing their facility here sometime during the first part of 2013.   He doesn’t have another job lined up yet.   I’m hoping he’ll be able get a job somewhere near where our families live in California .   It would be so nice to see everyone more often and for our daughter to have a closer relationship with loved ones.   Not knowin...

Every moment of light and dark is a miracle. Walt Whitman Winter Solstice:   the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere; the first day of winter. Today in Bellingham , sunrise is at 8:01AM and sunset is at 4:16PM, giving us just a little over eight hours of daylight.   But during most days now, daylight is not all that light. At this time of year, we usually have clouds and rain, so daylight is more of a dim light, frequently more like twilight than daylight. My family does not celebrate the winter solstice other than to acknowledge that winter is officially here, even though the weather has been winter-like for quite awhile.   Personally, I always rejoice a little inside just knowing that the days will be getting longer.   However, we surround ourselves with lights at this time of year in honor of Christmas.   Laura and Bryan decorate the yard with lights and deck the house with lighted garlands throughout.   The Christma...

  Happy December 1st!   Here is a sheet of Christmas gift tags for you to download and print.   Enjoy!   Cindy