A blanket of snow has arrived in Vermont. Finally. The mountains have called for it while skiers have been anxiously anticipating the extended yet disappointing weather forecasts for weeks. January in New England requires snow just as July demands warmth. Rain, snow, a rain / snow mixture forecasted during this past week with as much uncertainty as anything these strange and stressful days. The precarious is commonplace. Certainty is now fodder for the gods.
Finally, and happily, snow did fall. The inches piled in respectful numbers while the trees bent under the weight of the heavy wet snow. The familiar yet distant sound of a plow striking the pavement filled the still cold gray air. The transformation of our landscape was actualized. A fresh blanket of snow covered and embraced our hills and evergreens.
Hope and renewal filled my heart…
A snowy day often energizes creative thoughts as I eagerly anticipate a long workday in my studio. Uninterrupted time is cherished and coveted. I planned on exploring a new composition but would begin by repurposing a large canvas to create a study first. However, my efforts were in vain as my focus was divided between caring for my anxious and nervous senior dog as the lights flickered in an irregular regularity due to the storm outside. The generator motoring up and down left us both a bit edgy and scattered in our attention. I knew my workday might be doomed as Cub’s nose kept making its presence known from underneath my canvas while he unsuccessfully tried to hide his 68-pound body just behind my easel. Persistently passive aggressive in his attempt to make his presence known.
A simple acrylic wash covered the majority of the original brush strokes. Ridding myself of what I deemed undesirable in order to create a new is much easier in painting than in life. Today’s effort may not be any better than the original painting I worked to cover but the journey to venture forth in a new direction felt long overdue and welcome.
Hope and renewal filled my heart…
I texted a longtime friend early today. He lives in Lansing; MI and I was worried about the news being reported regarding the horrific threats against the Michigan elected officials and the concerns of potential violence in the days ahead. We exchanged a number of text messages and thoughts on the distressing news of the day. A far better wordsmith than I he referred to the outgoing resident of the White House as the “Great Grifter.” I sat back in my desk chair while taking my fingers off the phone so as not to quickly respond but instead really think about that for a moment or two. “Great Grifter” seemed perfectly poignant in its description. A con man.
The presidential end of the “Great Grifter” is just a few tenuous days away and while the forecast feels unfathomably uncertain, I am hoping we will all soon be blanketed with hope and renewal as our landscape changes on January 20th…
I’m a con artist in that I’m an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn’t. John Lithgow
A pleasure to find this lovely Vermont writing….
Honored and thank you Brett…love your writing and always look forward to seeing a new post in my inbox!