Tulip Dreams

Do you dream of tulips this time of year, but find yourself still huddled inside over a cup of hot tea? Though spring is only days away, we are still buried in snow up here in NH. In March I am eager to get outside and apparently in 2006 I did venture out with my camera. To the left is a picture of what I saw: Gray snow. This year is a little different. We still have gray snow. We just have more of it after an unusual winter. 100+ inches of the white stuff is slow to melt.

Last year I smartened up and just stayed inside. I'll stick with still-lifes this time of year. Still-lifes and a cup of tea sounds much better than old melting snow and a cup of tea. The spring flowers are being thrust upon me every where I turn -- in the grocery store, at Home Depot, on my neighbors kitchen table -- everywhere that is except in my garden where their arrival still seems painfully far off. I gather the blossoms from the store and place them along side my mug. I jack up my tripod and get to work in my sun room. I'm working hard and willing spring along with sheer determination.

How I love the anticipation of the time of year when we welcome color back to the garden! Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. The new flower season collides with the ending of the hot tea season. What better way to celebrate than to bring the two together for a portrait session?

I'm currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's new book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. This is a must read! I hope to learn from Ms. Kingsolver's observations that modern man has trouble just accepting nature as is. We must conform to the weather and not fight it. (If only I had that greenhouse I mentioned last week) I am anxious to finish the book to share thoughts about it. Any others out there reading it? I'm up to the part about heirloom vegetables...