some bright and cheery for the snowy and gloomy

I've been really disappointed in the lackluster sheen to my blog lately. of course, i blame winter's low/lack of light. i have plenty of pictures...but no literally shining stars.

so maybe i'll just brighten things up with photo credits for a while.

there hasn't been much to update lately, other than a few yummy things i've made in the kitchen. the unusually cold and snowy weather here, and many consistently gloomy days, have made me a bit more blecchhhhyy feeling than usual in terms of mood.

i've tried to compensate by forcing trips to the yoga studio and the Y, which i recently joined. last night was much-needed swimming in the pool, followed by a full moon yoga gathering of women at another yoga studio than my own, which was very powerful and cleansing.

there is knitting going on. but it, too, seems forced. so too the weekly stitch and bitch sessions. maybe i'll post on ravelry someday ... this pic is not knit by me but it's an elizabeth zimmermmann baby sweater...on my own list of intentions for this year.


i am being pretty strict on getting eight hours of sleep per night. i can't seem to get enough. it's dark at 8 a.m. here. this is difficult.

somehow, i'm slogging through. it's not as bad as i'm making it seem, but tell that to my brain chemistry sometimes!

on one hand, though, a bit of romance is in the air. cautious romance, but romance nonetheless.

there are layers. and as much as i love vintage sundresses and bare feet, i also love layers. i'm a matching layers kind of gal.


it's also amazing what good earrings, and actually wearing them again, can do for you. ditto on red hair. i'm considering a cut of these long locks, too ....


up soon: a trip to a local bakery for vegan treats, and a very mellow vegan chili/stew party at mi casa featuring locally-made fresh bread, and gifts of salad, wine, dessert.


there are novels being read: atonement, living outside the box (a book about living without TV, which i've been doing for a few years now). i'm soon to start water for elephants, and maybe the girl with the dragon tattoo. and then i'll watch all the movies that accompany them.

there are netflix flicks being downloaded and watched in bed.

and when the weather goes above 35 degrees, there are walks in the parks around here. soon, i'm hoping, there will be hikes again.

i'm popping 2,000 mg of vitamin D3 every day. i was taking it every other day, then i got a cold so i upped it and now the nose is running clear again after 7 days. not bad. cough all gone, too.

i'm trying to recommit to veganism after the holidays tripped me up. it would be easy if i had any inspiration to cook. but maybe tonight i'm going to make green tea rice with tofu and snow peas from the cookbook 1,000 Vegan recipes.


so much seems forced, but doing it is good for me and i know it. and there is always st. john's wort, but i'm hoping to see the sun around here a bit more in the near future. fingers crossed (as it snows outside 4 to 6 inches as we speak ....)

i hope i didn't sound too down. i'm not ... just .... cabin fever-y. maybe i just need to get out more and have some drinks and live music keeping my heart warm and lively! hmmm ..... oh yeah! i bought some of these for my classroom and they're reminding me that better days are coming!


i think i'm feeling a bit better after those bright photos, aren't you? and after a cup of hot tea and a hot shower i will feel even more restored.