Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.

Poets over the ages have proffered plenty of advice for the coming months. Poet Pietro Aretino, born in the 15th century, said, "Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." William Blake wrote, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." There's a Japanese proverb that says, "One kind word can warm three winter months."

Emily Dickinson wrote, "There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes." Existentialist Albert Camus wrote, "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." Victor Hugo once said, "Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart."

American writer Minna Antrim gave these instructions-in-verse:
"Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair."

This was taken from my daily message from Garrison Keillor. Do you get it too? The Writer's Almanac is a wonderful daily message of poems and other interesting facts. Click here.

I did this little santa (watercolor on Yupo) a year ago as a possible Christmas card and then rejected him in favor of something else. But I've always liked him. Although I am in Florida this solstice...we have had some chilly days here over the past weeks....so a little hot cider and a warm blanket can feel good down here too in December and January. I wish you all a very merry holiday!!! Sorry I've been so slow to blog this fall and I resolve to be back to my studio and sending out more frequently.