It’s pretty quiet up here.
The usually sunny and blue skies are disguised by snow: a fine mist that lays like a fog over the river. January crawls on and I realize I have a bit of cabin fever.

Cabin fevered!!!! (This is Bonkers, one of the pet rescue kittens).
I’ve been doing stuff: yesterday I went skating. The day before, I stopped by the Sam Waller Museum to see about volunteering. Tomorrow I’m driving to Snow Lake, to deliver a rescue dog for the pet rescue with which I’m volunteering.
But something’s missing.
Warmth, yeah, but I think another cause of the “fever” has to do with the temporary hold on my creative work.
My second novel gurgles and burps in my brain but apart from Swarm edits, I haven’t been doing a whole lot. This is partly because I have to dive more deeply into research. And it’s also because I’m in the midst of transforming my creative space into an area more inspiring that what it currently is: a drab basement room with cold lime sherbet coloured walls.
The spare room/library is also getting a redo; its deep lavender walls already primed and ready for a new colour. My paint choices are predictable: oranges and reds, those vivid shades that are absolutely lacking in the outer world.
The ice planet, J. calls it. At work, an old-timer who was picking up his grandchild told him, If you can get through January….
You’re home-free, I guess he meant. I hope so. And I hope I’m also working happily in the bright corners of my cabin.
You’re almost through January. Hang in! Soon enough it will be spring and you’ll forget/forgive. The grass will turn green, the buds will be on the trees and you’ll be busying yourself with the planting of orange and red flowers in your garden beds, giving Mowat something pretty to dig up. I love that you are trying new things and meeting new people! Love you both to pieces! Mom/Joy
Lauren,
I just cannot wait for your book to come out!
Good on you for getting involved in your community. The shelter(Oh my, Nice eyes on Bonkers)!!! the Museum…
Paint is a wonderful thing. Reds and oranges, for as long or as little as you please, then change it up when the mood strikes. It’s a small enough thing to make a big change in your space.
We were talking of you and J at dinner this evening. Boy would I love to come to visit (in the freaking summer)!
Jayne
Sounds like you’re definitely fighting the fever, which is half the battle. -27 with the wind chill is the coldest it’s gotten so far around here. Everyone is hunkering down. I love the idea of oranges and reds….perhaps accompanied by some enlargements of photos fom your warm weather travels?…keep em posts coming…miss yous
My dear, may the Arctic isolation inspire and spur you to greater creative heights than ever…………..
I’m almost finished with my lamprophyre paper and frankly and thoroughly sickofit………..8 hrs X 98 days on it so far…….
-18 this morning………Mom is with Tim in YYZ right now………
Much love
U.