December 20, 2015

A Green Christmas

 Winter Forest Note Cards
I think we are heading for a green Christmas. It's so unusual in Montreal not to have at least a bit of snow on the ground at Christmas. It's what everyone is talking about here. The skating rink boards were installed weeks ago in the park across the street but there isn't a snowflake or a sliver of ice in sight.

There's not really anything one can do so, while dreaming of snow, we are going about our days and getting ready for the holidays. Today it is colder but the forecast for the week ahead is for mild, rainy days.

The photo above is of tiny rain-soaked crabapples in my garden. While I was taking this photo and others on one of the rainiest days of the past week, a patient, slightly soggy Meeko waited for me on the back porch. Such a good boy.

I have been painting. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen my progress photos of a watercolour I just finished of a small winterberry branch. This is my favourite kind of painting to do--a study of a natural object. I have another step to do as this will be a special print, actually one that was suggested to me by a lovely customer.

When I was purchasing the winterberry branches to use as my painting references at a local garden centre, the sales clerk told me that their spring bulbs were 80% off. I already planted over 350 bulbs in November but the ground still isn't frozen and the price was hard to resist. So I purchased some more spring bulbs and added them to my garden this past week! Planting spring bulbs in the garden in mid-December! The silver lining of this odd weather.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:26 PM EST

    c'est la même chose ici en région parisienne. Un temps incroyablement doux pour la saison (15°C aujourd'hui avec du soleil, presque une journée de printemps !). Les narcisses et les crocus commencent à sortir de terre. J'ai rarement vu cela. Enfin, l'hiver n'est pas encore commencé et peut être aurons-nous des surprises en Janvier.
    Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année
    Hélène

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    Replies
    1. Il annonce 17°C ici le 24 décembre! Incroyable! Si je regarde les prévisions à long terme, les temperatures tomberont après. On verra. Joyeuses fêtes, Hélène!

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  2. I do feel your pain, my friend, and a green Christmas is what we are used to here, although we wish it could snow ! I hope you will get some snow eventually.
    Happy holidays, Kathleen, Meeko & family ! Much love !
    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. I think we are being given a taste of what Christmas is like elsewhere. There's some snow in the forecast but well after Christmas Day. Happy holidays to you, Pitou and your family, Sonia. Enjoy! xoxo

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  3. Merry Christmas, Kathleen!
    I cannot believe the lack of snow! Scary for our planet. But yay for more spring bulbs! Love your berries painting! I have not painted in awhile, and I look forward to it this winter and spring.

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    Replies
    1. Merry Christmas, Nancy! I was reading that this year's warm weather has been created by a combination of climate change and El Niño. We'll see what 2016 has in store for us.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to leave me a comment. I love reading them. -- Kathleen

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