My Plants Are So Happy

[Photo taken by the insanely talented Susannah Conway, who lives way too far away as far as I'm concerned.]

I was woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of rain, and I don't mean a gentle pitter pat on my rooftop.  This was a dumping, windy, steady pounding - a rarity in southern California, and something I wish we had more often.  Of all the 30+ homes I've lived in, my favorite was my tiny cottage in Santa Barbara, where I slept in a loft I could not stand up in.  I climbed up the ladder and crawled into bed with the ceiling just high enough that I could sit up.  During the fall, it always gave me a giggle to hear acorns falling on the roof and then rolling down to the ground.  On the rare occasion that it rained, it was heaven.

It is peculiar to see how my preferences for weather have changed over the past couple of years.  I am sure anyone living in cold climates right now will read this and think I am nuts for not love, love, loving the fact that it is sunny and 72 around here most days, but lately something about it hasn't felt entirely right.  The day I bought our Christmas tree it was downright hot, and I was decorating the house in flip flops and a t-shirt.  While I don't think I could survive a winter in Ottawa with my sanity intact, I do long for an environment where the seasons feel and look like what they are supposed to look like, at least a little bit.

[I write this and laugh, thinking that if you yanked me up and immediately plunked me down in North Dakota I might want to take back every word I've written here.]

Because I live a life that leans heavily toward movement, variety, activity and spontaneity, I long to be rooted in these other cycles and routines.  I find tremendous comfort in them, in their patterns, their reliability, their everyday-ness.  For some reason this year I have been especially annoyed at what looks inappropriate - this blazing hot weather in December that paved the way for some brutal fires up north.  Today's rain and gray skies are a welcome experience, and I hope it doesn't end too soon.

*****

Holiday Extravaganza Announcements:

Yesterday:  Beth won the Ordinary Sparkling Moments Give Away - Congratulations!!

Today:  Leave a comment today to be entered in a drawing for two goodies from Susannah Conway - a 5x7 print of La Vie en Rose, pictured above, and a postcard set!

Tomorrow:  Another Creative Thursday Give Away!

Comments

[jennifer]

I just had to comment after reading the NOrth Dakota part...hee hee. That's right where I am! The temperature is definitely something to get used to. Its sort of relative. AFter summer when the temp dropped down to 50 degrees I said to myself...no more skirts. But today...at 1 degree I sit here with a skirt, tights, and boots on and its OK. And lucky us we are expecting a blizzard (almost) this weekend. Oh happy day. or not.

I just bought your book for a friend for christmas (she's going to love it) after I drooled over one for myself ;) But I figured it was better to give and I will have to get one for me! I peeked through it and of course it is as delicious as I expected!!!

Merry Christmas to you
Jennifer

[Belinda]

Rain is my favourite weather, I must admit. I live by the sea, and when it is stormy, I can hear the waves crashing, and the trees rustling with the weight of water, and the rain hitting all my plants in the garden. It sounds like utter poetry.

[Lee Currie]

Today was one of those time-filled days and I went on a blog adventure: when one blog lead to another and another and another and somehow finally I landed on yours. Can I tell you how refreshing it is? Wow. Thanks so much. I read through October. You've had some autumn! Looking forward to reading more. All the best :) and THANKS!

[Tara Bradford]

Isn't Susannah's photography amazing? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the news of the rain in So Cal. As for me, after the cold and snowy weather of Philadelphia and NYC, I brought home the flu, which refuses to budge. Paris is cold, dark and gloomy at the moment. But I know what you mean about living in a place where the seasons are clearly-defined. Congrats to Beth!

[Marina]

it's been raining for 15 days now here in Northern Italy - appropriate for the season but very tiring for daily chores and so dark it's killing me. But I agree - what I love is being close to whatever is happening out there - rain on a very close roof, snow on the windowsill, the summer breeze on leaves, the beautiful sense of being in a hut, cuddled up like children. A big hug Christine, your blog is a real inspiration :-)

[fafa]

what a beautiful pic!

[kelly]

ummmm.....i love sitting in my attic studio
and listening to the rain hit my roof. it is cold here. yesterday we had ice, a 2hr school delay followed by snow.

on a happy note, i ran to hellmart and got a christmas tree for $10 and it is cute!

happy tuesday and hugs to the miss e. and
you too!

[Susannah]

okay, i want to be putting up my xmas tree in a t-shirt and flip flops too! i am sooooo sick of the cold rainy weather we're having. In fact, we don't seem to to have seasons anymore - it's just 12 months of rain in england *big sigh*

i love you :)

[Justin Davanzo]

oh yeah..i hear ya...i really loved that rain too last night and I think LA is the best when it is cold, rainy and stormy...it is nice...but i will also say that getting off the plane today after our visit and walking into 1 degree weather was quite a shock..I am at work now and it is -2 out at the moment...brrr...i have never lived anywhere in my life that is that cold...i love it though! I hope you get to bask more in the stormy weather.

So fun being with you guys as usual!!!

love ya

[Anna]

I am originally from SoCal and then lived in NJ for too many years and now am in NoCal... I do not miss the cold -- and I enjoy a warm, sunny day in the fall or winter. Though I grew up on the coast where it didn't really get hot.

[Beth]

Ohhhh....it takes thick blood to survive winters here in wisconsin, but somehow we do it !!!.....and I'd take your warmth anytime....I really would !!!

{and you can sneak a peek at my blog, to see what the craziness of staying inside does to all of us living here in the insanely cold temps}

the high today, just FYI.....4 degrees !

[Jeanne]

I too woke up in the middle of the night to open a window and look at the rain.....then snuggled back down into my warm bed with sleepy kitties. I heart this weather.....even if I am a native California girl.

[alek]

I so agree with you that there is something comforting about the cycles and patterns of the seasons. And how serendipitous - I just recently discovered Susannah's work and totally fell in love.

[darlene]

well, am looking out my cube window to a snowy icy river and white everywhere, the sun low in the sky and on its way to setting in a couple short hours (i just got back from lunch !!) and its frigidly cold outside and i am happy for subway tunnels ... but i must secretly admit that though i will be complaining bitterly in february, i am mostly happy right now :) i love the very distinct seasons from the cold relentlessly snowy winters to the hot dry summers, the rainy mushy spring sprouting colour and the colourful leaves of fall.

i heart susannah and her lovely photographs :)

[lisa]

I deeply empathize...It is 70 here today. Although snow is a far off dream, I am craving a the cold weather we had just a few days ago.
And yes, Susannah is insanely talented! I've been following her blog for a while now and hope to jump in on her new online course :)

[krista]

i suppose that technically there are 4 seasons in austin, but yesterday it was 78 degrees and super sunny--i decided long ago that i could only live happily in a place that has has palm trees...
thanks for the chance to win!
krista in austin

[Barbara]

I enjoy the four seasons too but don't like it to get REALLY cold in the winter. Thanks for your blog. I enjoy reading it. Would love to win one of the give-aways!

[i see beauty]

hello, i live in a region with 5 seasons and i love them all ... i love winter, i love rain and people think i am strange but i can't help it and it hurts me when some of them really says awful words to describe the weather .... i appreciate all what nature is offering from the softness and gentleness of a warm sun to the meditative sound of rain or the poem of snow ... and i agree with the way you talk about susannah's photographs - i can't wait to join her e-course !

[melissa]

I loved that cottage too! You can always move to NC...we have the 4 seasons but not the really, really cold weather. And I'd love to have you live closer :) xoxo