The To-Dos

When I was in high school I used to have to drive over an hour to enjoy a decent book store. And each month I would make the trek just to spend a few hours in the magazine section oooing and ahhing at the art magazines. Fresh brightly colored works adorned the pages and one talented artist's masterpiece ended up on the cover. I imagined how proud they must have been.

My favorite magazine was one called Southwest Art. I would eagerly await each new issue and literally drool over the pages as I turned them. I was swept away by the colors-bright and bold, the subjects -horses and buffalo, the landscapes, the flora and fauna, and the Native Americans in there settings. I was lost in the pages. I can remember looking a a painting of horses where the artist had used blues and yellows in their coats. I remember thinking "I can see that!" ...and I could. I could see the oranges, copper and golds in their black manes. The landscape was bright and brilliant and I wanted to walk into the pages and run in the open plains.

In fact, I had always planned to visit New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Texas, and then life changed and I still have not made it. So maybe in this new year I can make a trip to New Mexico one of my goals. I think Santa Fe would be my first stop. There are several museums and the American Folk Art Marketplace, as well as historical tours and garden tours that I would like to take in. If you visit the website santfe.org you can enjoy beautiful pictures of the area and see what I mean. Just look at those colors!

Of course the reality here this morning is coming down in big white flakes. The brilliant colors in my life today will come from several brightly dyed dyelots of yarn that need skeining and labels put on, and the fresh fruit and vegetables that I filled my refrigerator with as my double chin is about to be a triple chin from to much holiday feasting.

The sheep sat munching in the snow this morning as Max and I walked out to feed. It is quiet and peaceful when the snow falls, but I am not feeling the love for it this year as I have in previous years. Maybe a walk in the woods will help.