Thursday, March 8, 2012

Happy Winter is 65% Over Day

This winter my husband has been sending me emails with a winter countdown of sorts. Each email is titled similar to the title of this post.

crocus sketch
watercolor on paper

Most years, as soon as we get through the shortest day of the year he starts saying "Winter is on the run!" Mind you, the shortest day of the year occurs in December, and where we live winter pretty reliably lasts through March, but that doesn't phase him.

This year he has taken it a step further. Using a calculation method known only to him, he has been having a count down and informing me of each milestone we hit. According to him "Happy Winter is 65% Over Day" was actually on Monday. Today might actually be 67.3% Over Day, but I decided a little rounding couldn't hurt.

My system for tracking the progress of Spring's arrival is a little more straight forward. I watch for nature's cues.

snowdrop sketch
graphite on paper

My snowdrops and winter aconites are up and blooming. The daffodil leaves are several inches tall. And the tips of the other Spring bulbs are starting to appear above ground.

We have had a mild winter, so I am finding hubby's emails entertaining. Last year I might have felt differently. You may recall that I was soliciting photos of Spring's arrival in other places because I wasn't sure if it would ever show up here and stay.

This week, to celebrate Spring's approach, I completed the sketch at the top of this post using the photo below for inspiration.

photo ©2011 M. J. Muir

I received this photo last year from Mary Jane who lives in Vancouver, Canada. The original sketch is now waiting to be mailed. This taste of Spring will be arriving in MJ's mailbox any day.

I hope that Spring is arriving as quickly as a sketch sent through the mail to those of you who are waiting patiently for it.

For those folks in the southern hemisphere, I hope winter takes her time arriving.

Happy Winter is 65% Over Day to everyone!!

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In case you missed last week's announcement, I am starting a monthly email newsletter the first week in April. The newsletter will feature more of my original sketches, photos of and information about works in progress, and news from my studio. To receive the newsletter simply click on the "Newsletter Signup" tab at the top of my blog, fill in the required fields on the subscriber form found there, and click the "Subscribe" button. You will receive an email asking you to click a link to confirm your subscription. Click the link and your sign up will be complete!

As always, I thank you for your interest in my art and I hope you enjoy the new newsletter!

4 comments:

M J Muir said...

Oh my! I can't wait!
Hmmmm. Now what can I possibly do to return your kind generosity dear friend!
Thank you Stacy for the surprise! I just read your post. I love your watercolour of those babies. There are new ones blossoming now.

Stacy said...

MJ, I am so glad you were happily surprised! The sketch is still sitting on my art desk waiting to be mailed, but I promise to get it packed up and sent out soon.

There is no need for you to reciprocate since you already generously shared your photo with me last year and have been so supportive of my blog and art since the start.

But if you want to have a little fun, maybe you'd like to surprise one of your blog readers with something. I was happy all day waiting for you to find your surprise. :D

Have a great weekend!

Jennifer Rose said...

snowdrops are sprouting up everywhere here, and the daffodils are almost ready to bloom. once i see fields of yellow, i know that spring is almost here. it stays green pretty much all year long here, even in the winter the grass is neon green.

M J Muir said...

Your beautiful painting of yellow crocuses arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. I am thrilled to my bones to have such a lovely gift in the mail. Stacy you are so generous. I have sent you an email with a photo and I hope you receive it OK. More to come. THANK YOU!