winter is a faded vintage calendar, red on white turned to cream, declaring two more months of inclement weather, three if you wish to count the earliest of spring.
winter is taking your toys outside for a moment to play, then bringing them back in, and tucking them away.
winter is taking the playfulness of spring and working it into an ornamental piece of sunny memory.
winter is the waiting and the pulling in, the tight wrapping of ourselves with cocooning filaments of visions and projected dreams.
winter is a cluster of twigs bound soundly with mud, an empty nest, a bowl of summer days, safe harbor of "she thought they could".
winter is a bundle of old sticks,
a favorite bare tree,
some brittle iris pods,
a treasured, mismatched mix.
you are winter - look into the reflection, or the mirror - (you are there, in the clouds and the trees) -
and i am winter's writer: i wrote this reverie.
We are in the midst of a truly bitter winter day here in Minnesota...filling bird feeders the stinging wind slaps cheeks raw almost immediatley...thinking of the coyote I saw in the woods yesterday, the deer - all laying low today. This season, so worthy of reverence, is indeed utterly, painfully beautiful... just as you captured Her...
Posted by: Erin Gergen Halls | January 29, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Nina, this looks just like what's outside here in the NW. My family in Texas had two weeks of gloomy and thought they were going to die from lack of sunshine. They can't understand that gray skies bring out the best in colors and shifts our moods to quietness. Sending hugs your way, Kathy
Posted by: Kathy (Oly) | January 29, 2008 at 03:00 PM
very nice.
I wish this reverie was a thin book on old parchment, and I could hold it and read it at night. I can imagine reading the words and looking at the pictures while cuddled under a soft quilt and hearing the winter winds blow past a warm home with lighted windows.
it's a winter story book for big kids. thanks, Nina, for letting us read this. best, Joanie
Posted by: Joanie Hoffman | January 29, 2008 at 04:01 PM
very nice.
I wish this reverie was a thin book on old parchment, and I could hold it and read it at night. I can imagine reading the words and looking at the pictures while cuddled under a soft quilt and hearing the winter winds blow past a warm home with lighted windows.
it's a winter story book for big kids. thanks, Nina, for letting us read this. best, Joanie
Posted by: Joanie Hoffman | January 29, 2008 at 04:01 PM
very nice.
I wish this reverie was a thin book on old parchment, and I could hold it and read it at night. I can imagine reading the words and looking at the pictures while cuddled under a soft quilt and hearing the winter winds blow past a warm home with lighted windows.
it's a winter story book for big kids. thanks, Nina, for letting us read this. best, Joanie
Posted by: Joanie Hoffman | January 29, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I'm de-lurking to say thank you for these words. They inspire me to look at this winter day with warmer eyes.
I've been reading for a while but haven't commented because your writing leaves me in awe. So beautiful.
Posted by: deirdre | January 29, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Love the words and the pictures as always,but especially the toy chickens. I have the real things 9 of them and they lay the most beautiful eggs for me even in this horridly cold winter we have been having.
If I could I would send you snow but then you would have to take the wind and its so cold with the wind.18 to 20 today and no idea with the wind chill. The interstate east is still closed. Too icy and a wreck I heard earlier when I ventured over to the next town.
Posted by: Denise S | January 29, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Nina I cant even string to words together,you write so beautifully.
I love the last photo of you,deep in winters thoughts
Jen
Posted by: Jen Crossley | January 29, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Winter is also the warmth of this wonderful Nina's scarf-of-heartfelt-words against the cold afternoon :)
Posted by: Isabel | January 29, 2008 at 05:58 PM
on this mid winter's day there is a song being quietly sung to those we love. I know you can hear it, take this song and put it in your pocket to keep your hands warm until your pockets are needed to hold other things, such as flowers, leaves, and sunbathed river rocks. until then sing along with me... xoxo
Posted by: m | January 29, 2008 at 06:09 PM
did I forget to tell you how much I truly love, love, love your photos that you have shared here today...it is something I cannot put into words, my feelings towards winter ... but you do it oh so well.
Posted by: m | January 29, 2008 at 06:14 PM
rello nina, roh how rye mis ewe. rye wish so much that rye could have traveled rback home with ewe that warm fall day way rback in roctober, sighhhh. however ewe do ruv to come hear and see what ewe and mr. Aspen have been up to. rye ruv ewe.
Posted by: Riley | January 29, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Beautiful...
Love Jo xoxo
Posted by: Jo Stables | January 29, 2008 at 06:48 PM
I started this 'winter' page with a big smile on my face.. You know, how I love little animal toys,.. only to scroll down and find myself breathing deeper and slower.... Your photo reverie left me breathless,..I find myself 'captured' in your winter's tale...It was so cold and crisp here yesterday, I thought I could smell snow, more than twice....as the palm trees continued to chatter their windy song....OX for bringing me closer to your spot, in our world....LYLT..
Posted by: hol | January 29, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Oh luscious! We had one day of snow. A dusting really. But notable for the light. I've been sick so I couldn't take advantage of that glorious white that comes with the heavy clouds overhead and the white covering everything. You capture that light and the mood of it in this post. Especially in your self portrait.
Posted by: Tina (in Seattle) | January 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
january has always been the hardest month for me. i usually am missing the garden and its growth. now i appreciate winter for the resting period that it is. read and loved 13 moons on your recommendation. also making some jewelery per your inspiration. thank you for your posts and ideas.
Posted by: jennifer | January 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Delightful! Just delightful! Billy would be proud. Tomorrow I will take my toys for a walk in the woods *smile* We can all use the outing.
xoxo Cat
Posted by: cat | January 29, 2008 at 11:56 PM
thanks for warming me up with your words and photos on this brutally cold, cold day here in wisconsin.
Posted by: Beth | January 30, 2008 at 08:04 AM
nina dearheart...thank you once again for the "free transport." your words are soothing and wonderful....like taking a huge breath of air and letting it out slowly as my body relaxes into itself again. aaahhhh. Linda
Posted by: linda | January 30, 2008 at 08:19 AM
just beautiful. you should publish a book of poetry nina. i love all the pictures too. wonderful. xoxo nita
Posted by: nita | January 30, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Here it has snowed over 18 inches in less than 3 days, with 3-5 more inches coming tomorrow...I'm originally from TX, and this has been a very rough winter on me emotionally. Thank you for turning winter into something so heartbreakingly beautiful. Your words are so exquisitely crafted and poetic, and I love how you have juxtaposed them with your lovely photographs. You have brightened my world.
Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Lovely, inspiring post. Your pictures are true treasures. Winter has been so nasty here this year and caused such damage it is a bit hard to find the beauty of it sometimes. But inspiration does come in very special ways and I am being helped in a way I never imagined. BTW, after a particularly nasty snowy, icy, windy sub-0 windchill day yesterday there was the mostly lovely sunrise today. Now we are waiting for another vicious winter storm to blow in late tonight and on into Friday morning. I am planning ro use a PDO and stay home from work Thursday. I have a big cover story that runs Sunday so it's a bit tricky taking Thursday off but my editor says it's in overall good shape and I will have Friday, hopefully, to do any final touches. We are suppoed to get a lot of snow and in this hilly city navigating is disastrous!
Posted by: Vickie | January 30, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Cute little chickens. They look like they're right out of the 20s or 30s.
Posted by: Brian | January 30, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Cute little chickens. They look like they're right out of the 20s or 30s.
Posted by: Brian | January 30, 2008 at 02:43 PM
What a beautiful post! I'm experiencing my first "temperate" winter, and am loving every second of it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: cori | January 30, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Lovely Nina, your blog is called Ornamental for a reason. Your path through life is picturesque and drawn so beautifully for us.
Posted by: Kel | January 30, 2008 at 05:55 PM
i wish i could feel the earthy energy of the nest upon my hands, dream under that tree and give you a big warm hug.
delila
Posted by: sepia art studio | January 31, 2008 at 03:45 AM
Your writing inspires me to write, a poem, a thought and to look out the window and think about words can fit so beautifully together.
For me:
Winter is finding colors when the whole world seems white.
We have had over a foot of snow fall today, blowing everywhere in every direction!
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | January 31, 2008 at 07:09 PM