Snow Day

Snow Day

Snow days in Texas come as a rare joy that brings the neighborhood to a standstill. A forced respite from the rest of the world. Few people have snow tires so we accept that it will be a day to stay home rather than venture into the treacherous surroundings. A rare hiatus from the nagging world. We can embrace the opportunity to catch up on day-to-day life, read the book on the side table, enjoy the flashes of visiting cardinals and think of loved ones.

If we are especially lucky, the snow accumulates in drifts creating the opportunity to build the first and only snow person or animal of the year. This chance emerges every few years in the land usually barren of snow.

For me the snow offers welcome inspiration to view the world in a different light, the cool tones reflecting off the snow, the muted distance, the warm yellow light abutting the cool ultramarine shadows. The snow melts quickly here but the memories and inspiration remain – hopefully long enough to paint through the frigid days of January and February in Texas with the return of crisp blue skies.