Winter Isn't ALL Bad: Christmas birding in Gloucester
It's the middle of winter. It's all downhill from here until Spring, no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says.
Staten Island Chuck in 2009
The days are getting longer. For the past few years in upstate New York, with the guaranteed snow cover, I always looked forward to February because the sun was making a comeback, which turned the white ground into a massive full-spectrum OTT light. It's a tiny bit different here in central Michigan. The brown everywhere sucks up the new sun. But I'm still trained to love February for its shift toward the light.
I've been looking for a way to celebrate midwinter. My Christmas/ winter solstice lights will come down. Chris suggested tea and baked goods and some reading on the couch. Sounds good, but it's also exactly what we've been doing for the past several weeks. I'm also planning to end my running hiatus. Then, I stumbled on this:
Blog Free February (BFF)
The gist is get off the internet and go write, paint, draw, create. For every 20 minutes you write or otherwise create, you get ONE minute for your blog, surfing, or social networks. I've been meaning to do a lot more creating than I have been doing. In a way I feel like Laurie Halse Anderson is playing a form of that "Okay, Let's See Who Can Be Quiet the Longest" game with us so that she can take a break. But I'm all for it. I need a break from the digital rabbit hole that is the internet.
So, my goal? I'll come back in March with a load of seed starting adventures and garden plans to report. I also want to think about why I'm doing this blog thing. Finally, I've got way too many creative itches to scratch right now. I need to focus.
See you in March.
2 comments:
I'm feeling you on all of that.
Luckily, Groundhog's Day is my elopement anniversary, so my husband and I have a tradition of visiting the local taco stand (we ate a Mexican brunch after our civil ceremony and then honeymooned in Mexico) and watching a movie set in a Spanish-speaking, warm climate. It's a nice winter holiday for us.
I recently started taking a "voluntary simplicity" class at the church where I work. It's not about being a stinky hippie like I thought it might be (haha). It's more about focusing your priorities and experiencing life to the fullest, in the healthiest way possible.
As part of that concept, I've pledged from now on that at least every other blog post has to include new material that I've written for my WIP... so I'll be forced to write chapters if I want to blog.
Have a productive break, and I'll be peeking in on your gardening posts when you come back in March! And, of course, making time to actually garden myself. :)
Eloping on Groundhog's Day! There is something inside-out-wonderfully-symbolic in that. I've always loved Groundhog's Day... midwinter and lengthening days.
Good luck with your WIP. I think the "trading" of creative time with blog/ internet time has been a good thing for me. It gives me some good limits and perspective.
Post a Comment