we’re awash in winter storms which have come early to clean our streets, freshen our air, and douse our gardens with much-anticipated water. i can practically hear the leaves and roots absorbing every drop.
once upon a time time, LA could rely on getting snowy streets about once a decade, but no more. however, our local mountaintops, visible throughout the city, do turn reliably winter white most years. it is a wonder to behold from down here in the coastal lowlands. i will try and capture a photo this winter to share with you.
larry showed up like clockwork this morning for the 2nd sunday in a row. i expect by the time i go back to school in mid-january the walls and trim of moss cottage will be glowing in winter whiteness.
today i sequestered myself and the cat posse in a couple of rooms while the rest of the house was being painted. outside the rain came down, until midday when the sun began to shine through the stacks of clouds. all the trees were dripping. little streams of water ran down the lane. which ran down to the street, which found larger streets, and eventually the arroyo where it moved swiftly towards the LA river and eventually made it’s way to the mighty pacific.
i miss my paint-by-number ship, and cuckoo clock. and all the other treasure stored out in the garage waiting for me to bring them back inside, but at least my bookcases are fully loaded. each book a tiny world of possibility. beckoning me to stop and turn the pages as i pass. i turned many many pages today. more cleaning and sorting and donating. my collection ever shifting and changing.
the ginkgo trees are bright in december. their leaves make dazzling carpets throughout the city.
this week in the classroom we painted ornaments to decorate the auditorium for the christmas concert. in the weeks leading up to our 3 week winter break everyone is jubilant.
in between the downpours of sun and rain i shot outside to take photos of the greening garden. it happens very quickly in the winter. from parched to bursting with life. each plant knows when to wake up and start growing.
i sincerely hope you are up to something very good indeed in your houses, in your gardens, in your books, in your imaginations. i’m going on a winter roadtrip to northern forests and wild beaches. expect postcards from new frontiers!
Missing your missives Ms Moss. What was your winter getaway?
I know this is a lot of work, being uprooted while the painting goes on. It is SO worth it! And, you manage to send out the newsletter even while you’re in the midst of “stuff going on-that’s pretty good! Don’t laugh, but sometimes, I feel when your newsletter arrives, I am reading one of the few sane voices out there! It is most welcome when it comes to my inbox lo, these many years. Down-to-earth, humorous and encouraging, it never fails to lift my spirit, every time. I wish you the best of holidays and every other day, too! Thank you for what you give to all of us.
dear sandra my mentally ill alter ego did bristle when you mentioned SANITY, but i personally was flattered and delighted. thank you xo
The ornament paintings are fantastic! Great job. I wish you the best of winter trips with all the things that make you happy and refresh your soul! Merry Christmas!
why thank you missus caroline berk! thank you very much indeed!
My string of pearls I brought back to the high desert from Mexico finally croaked, but Evdad spritzes the pot religiously 2x a day. At Lowes yesterday I saw a string of bananas, a new plant for me. Yours looks like it’s thriving. Been thinking of trying to give one a go. Sewell house-where indoor plants go to die, cared for lovingly.
the succulent strings go crazy here in this climate. the ones in the basket are string of fishhooks and i took a cutting from an airbnb – the plant was badly neglected. now my offspring are probably looking better than the parent plant.
the other is a string of figs, but i do have a proper string of pearls. i will remember to take a pic soon. it is a v.v.v.v. slow grower, unlike all of my other strings.
i did a radical pruning of all of my SOF this past summer and started that little pot. was hit and miss for awhile, but i just ignored it and now it seems to be thriving. succulents are just plain Fun with a capital F!!! xo
Oh those books – such dear friends – I visited Charlotte this weekend and she has the most exquisite collection of books in her lovely little house – we made a stack on Friday night that I savored all weekend xx
your currier and ives winters are a balm to my california soul. the book stacks sound fabulous!
Rain… Glorious rain. I believe I heard these some time previous but I don’t remember when. I know how precious it can be in some areas. LOVE the ornament painting… so beautiful and the colors are superb. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the painting.
i can’t wait till it’s over and done with. next comes the FDP – front door project.
We just had the interior of our house painted too ~ the Mon. thru Wed. before T’giving! An experience I never want to go through again!! It is taking me far longer to put the house back together than it did to pack it up!
But it is giving me the opportunity to edit and select, especially up here in my studio ~
All best luck with your renewal ~