Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Bring summer in

Tired Me
Self portrait
Black marker and pencil on bond paper
12 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

In the north here, despite the fact that the light is getting
stronger and longer, we are still mired in winter.  My
laptop shows a picture of the morning glories in our
garden last summer -- that brilliant blue, and the verdant
jungle of leaves cheer me up every time.
But we need more than that to keep the belief in summer
alive in our hearts.  We do, after all, have a long wait --
all the way to April, and often all the way to May.
Roses are a happy part of the kitchen clutter
(The bunch on the left cost $1.99 -- so
almost everybody can have some.)

My answer is really simple.  Bring it in.  Go to your
nearest flower store, or grocery store and buy some
flowers.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  At our florist
a pot of tulips is $4.99.  That pot will go from small
buds to massive blooms in about a week, and for that
whole week there is a joyous feeling in the house.
Not only that, when you brush against the plant to open
a cupboard door, or to make a coffee, you will smell
the smell of spring.  What a heady concoction to those
of us subjected to wind, snow, ice and freezing
temperatures for at least four months, and sometimes six.

This strategy works.  I've tested it for the past few winters,
and found that if I come into a house filled with flowers
my mood lifts instantly.

Have a going-out-to-get-some-flowers day.

4 comments:

belindadelpesco.com said...

Your philosophy works for me, and even if I had reservations about it having the seasonal-swap impact, the photos of your kitchen counter bursting with roses would have swayed me straight over to the Lets-Do-It column. Tomorrow, I will buy flowers. xoxoxo

Liza Hirst said...

When I lived in Germany, flowers were affordable, if not even cheap and I always had flowers in our appartment. Then in France, unfortunately I had to give up that enjoyable habit due to unbelievably high prices. Luckily I had a garden there, so that in summer I did have beautiful bouquets or a few individual flowers in my house, but not during the winters. I agree - it makes such a difference.
Your kitchen looks delightful and your drawing is awesome!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Belinda,

I remember so well going to California in February. We drove to the airport in an ice storm. The cab was sideways across the road half the time, and there were no other cars on the road at 4 a.m. We arrived to see people in T-shirt weight sweatsuits. Californians thought the weather was so cold, but there were lemon trees, and poppies everywhere, and we were in heaven. I'm sure there are flowers there. Yes. Do it. I love your paintings of flowers. Happy Valentine's month to you.

XOXOXOXOX0XBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thanks so much. I think you are somewhere warm right now, or I'd feel terrible for you. It's odd that flowers are expensive in France because you're so close to Holland and the giant fields of flowers, and greenhouses. I think it that circumstance I'd have to have a greenhouse. I require flowers. In Italy in December there were the biggest anemones I've ever seen in the market.

Happy Valentine's month.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!