Leap Day

It's February 29, 2012 - Leap Year Day. As I drove home from work (yea - payday!), I decided I'd take some random pictures to mark the day. Signs of spring outdoors, and yes a wild stuffed piggie.

Cool light pattern from our french patio doors at approximately 4:30 pm

Nifty shadow perspective

This festive plant is sitting on my kitchen table, but I moved it for the light pattern on the floor. I bought it at Calloways on Sunday, just to brighten our February. Love the colors and I hope to pot it later, but I'm waiting in case of a final freeze. Then again, it's 72 degrees today. No wonder weeds are choosing to sprout.

February Valentine candy is long gone. Here's to jelly beans. These are the Starburst sour style. Yeah, yeah, I know - it's early for Easter candy. Mind your own business. Happy Leap Year Day!

Write Beyond

I'm still pushing my blizzard pictures, plus we have snowflakes today. So, the February snow theme continues this week. How come the snow in Whistler, BC, Canada looks way cooler? Well, for one thing, they manage to have sunshine combined with snow. Somehow, Texas can't muster both at the same time. Gray and dreary prevails. Thus I don't have decent sun glinting off snow pics. But the detail of snow on my garden curbing is awesome. I'm working up a poem, knee deep in finding a synonym for white.

Where's the eye focus? The fish silhouette? Or the empty space? As a wordsmith, I need to blur the field, change the focus, discover another view or pattern. That's the constant challenge, and just when I hit on something pure, it can melt away.

There's a Reason for February

Gray sky bleeds through empty boughs. Rain drop blahs penetrate the soul. But there's a reason for February. Hibernation. There's absolutely nothing one can do but wallow in a sweatshirt, sip hot cocoa, and read. For those who say they don't have enough time to read - how many hours will you spend watching the Super Bowl, not to mention pre-Super events? I'm not saying you should skip the Super Bowl party. Believe me, my butt will be planted with a bowl of chips by my side. However, think about your allocation of time and then hallow out minutes or an hour in a week to read a book or magazine that appeals to you.

Have a book handy that you want to read, not one you think you should read. There's a difference. Quiet with no distractions is essential. I just finished The Likeness by Tana French. Fun exciting read and I ignored cooking, cleaning, and other duties that weren't going to go away to zoom to the conclusion. Whew!

February is a month to get entangled in an exciting story or twisted plot. Find a book that ensnares you. Revel in the wordplay. Love or hate characters. Be happy the groundhog saw his shadow and there's six more weeks of winter. Hide the rake. Shut the door on the vacuum.

Rejoice in reading. Up next for me - The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee