I needed comfort this week, not adventure, so I chose to draw on the back deck with my Pentel Stylo pen, which allowed me time to recover. I sat outside for my prescribed 20 minutes of sun, and followed the directions of a good book, The Curious Nature Guide, by Clare W. Leslie.
I made sketches in answer to the questions she asked.
What was in front of me?
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| Our Christmas tree as if it were in snow |
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| From the window |
What did I see that had similarities?
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| First, trellises and bird houses; second, leaves |
What were some memories I had of nature?
What does my neighborhood look like?
Through the week, I drew and slowly got over the cold. I thought of two good books that I read this year:
which gave me insight into the Japanese culture and answered questions that I had while we were living in Japan.
which looks at the incident at the center of The Stranger by Albert Camus (the random shooting of an Arab by the Stranger) from the point of view of the Arab's family, and what it means to have no name other than 'the Arab', and to be constantly reminded of his death at the hands of another each time someone new reads the book. Interesting idea.
If you live in Northern California, you are experiencing our 'secret' California weather that almost always comes the last week in December and the first week in January: blue skies, fluffy clouds, chilly, but warm sun. If you are not, I hope you can find
a place where the sun is warm on your face and that you are well!
I enjoy reading with eye for detail "count the smattering of rain drops on the stones outside; another day, to count the one bee, confused by the sunny weather, that buzzed by me on the back porch; and to count the number of seed balls that fell from the Liquid Amber trees on to our deck like little bombs." I seem to be a voyeur of the whole picture and miss out on many fine details, and that's ok. Happy New Year from sunny but cold Oklahoma.
ReplyDeletebetter late than never...saw some sun today in between the rains and mists and liking the burrowing inside with the cold outside....also liking the feel of that I. Magnin Mink Jacket that I've been wearing to keep warm. If anyone says anything at all about it...I tell them the truth...I got it for $60 at a garage sale about 7 years ago and I found it again in my closet! Today I was told not to wear it in the rain or in San Francisco...Oh yes, yes, Martha, I love your blog <3
ReplyDeleteMink Jacket! Wow, watch out for red paint sprayers! You are right, fur does keep you warm. Someone suggested making pet blankets from old furs. I don't know about that either. And thanks, Jan, for reading my blog.
DeleteDear Martha, Thank you for bringing my attention to Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye. I bought it and am enjoying it very much. I am almost done and plan to share it! Domo Arigato!
ReplyDeleteYes, I really loved reading this book. I'm glad you like it too! Do o itashi mashite, Sara.
DeleteI am just finishing my second reading of this book in a week. It is profoundly moving and enlightening about the process of grief. The idea of the pause perfectly explains my experience of grief. I have found this book to be profoundly helpful in understanding grief for a recent friend's death and the most devastating one, my sister, fifty years ago. Thank you for telling me about it. A heart gift.
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