Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Searching for Signs of Spring

Don't know what it is about January and February that depresses me but I've pretty much figured it's the weather. If August signals the Dog Days of Summer then January and February are the Doggier Days of Winter. Those of you in the North and Northeast have been buried under snow FOREVER and looking for a way to dig yourselves out of the mess. Here in Texas, it has been just cold and dreary. Not a bit of snow, just BLECH. Everywhere you go people are wearing their dark, wintery things and the warm tone of the holiday spirit we just experienced has disappeared. Personally, I have found my energy is low. The world seems gray and nasty. Color is just gone.

The stores are now stocked with Valentine's things...lots of reds and pinks and there is even heavy evidence of Easter stuff, too. Retailers are teasing us with the coming of spring and anticipation is building for the grass to green-up and the trees to bud. Sadly though, spring isn't here yet. We'll be trudging through another few months before the world begins to look a little brighter. A week or so ago, I headed out to run errands and while piddling around in a cosmetics department I found this BEAUTIFUL pink nail polish. Normally I don't bother with it because I'm home all the time and behind my computer. Guess I figure, who do I need to impress? Anyway, the polish caught my eye because it was nestled among all these darker, bolder colors...purples, blues and dark greens. That pretty pink polish practically sang to me. Naturally, I had to have it and I was so in love with the spring color that I immediately did my nails. To me it was like putting Easter eggs on my nails and my mood instantly soared. Just a simple thing.


I'm thinking now that color is key, at least for me, in finding signs of spring but other things play a part too. Listening to The Beach Boys makes me think of summer. The scent of watermelon does too. Little things can take us into a different time and place. Simple things like burning citrus candles could help and I'm seriously tempted to head to the florist for a bouquet of something pretty and bright for my favorite vase. Spring is out there seductively whispering in my ear but Spring is also a slow-poke. A little nudge might be just the thing. What little things do you do to bring a little sunshine into your life?

20 comments:

Valerie Douglas aka V. J. Devereaux said...

I keep reminding myself of the date. It's the end of January. In one more month it will be the end of February... March will be only a few days away and April will be right on it's heels.
In the meantime, I burn lavender candles and watch the dogs play in the snow!

Regina Carlysle said...

Looking ahead helps. I think that's easy in our business because we are looking at release dates in the spring. Helps a bunch! Yeah...lavendar. YUM!

Laura G. said...

I agree! We've had more snow this year than...well, than I can remember! I tired of the cold, the snow, the rain, the overcast skies. Yeah...depressing! But I think you're also right. Colors, scents, and sounds can lift our spirits while we wait for that fuddling spring to make its arrival. And I LOVE that color pink nailpolish you found! What is it? I was looking for a nice coral shade just yesterday! LOL Must be in the air...

Oh...and they have watermelon scented liquid handsoap. Yummy! Heck, you'd be washing your hands every hour...oh, and that would cut down on winter colds, too! Win-win. LOL :)

Hugs!

Regina Carlysle said...

The color is an off-brand from CVS called Always and Forever. LOL. Romantic much???? I have to get groceries tomorrow and I'm definitely picking up flowers. That suits my mood. Might get a citrusy candle too.

Regina Carlysle said...

I'm also writing a story set in the summertime (June) so I'm wondering if I shouldn't turn on some summertime tunes.

Wendy A said...

I have been lucky this year we had only one bad snow storm so far and after that its been in the high 60 nights are cold but days are like spring i don't do pink but if i did it would be something like that color i don't like dark colors on my nails mine are all light colors.

Kathy Kulig said...

Love the pink polish. When I looked at my thermometer the other morning and it was zero, I started wishing for flipflop days. sigh. More time to stay inside and write tho. :)
Kathy http://www.kathykulig.blogspot.com

Paris said...

Love the polish! And it does remind me of warmer weather:) At least we had some sunshine today while I was out and it wasn't frigid. Just cold.
I can't wait to drag out the wicker furniture and sit on the porch and drink tea. Until then, it's vanilla candles and and and earthen crock filled with flowers.

anny cook said...

I use a bunch of sun lamps to keep it brighter inside.

Unknown said...

I'll play some summery music, like Michael Fronti and Spearhead or Bob Marley. Honestly, though, winter doesn't bother me at all. It's the summer that I don't like, too much heat and humidity and no football. :)

Regina Carlysle said...

I'm with you Wendi. I don't care for the blues, greens and purples for fingernails. Guess I'm too OLD SCHOOL for that! LOL. You are lucky to have springlike weather. It has just been so gray and yuck here.

Regina Carlysle said...

I'm like you Kathy. I've been staying inside and writing like a crazy lady. It's GOOD but I would dearly love to sit outside with my coffee look at some flowers and THINK. Too cold for that here.

Regina Carlysle said...

Flowers! Yes, Paris. Definitely getting something spring-y tomorrow.

Regina Carlysle said...

Lots of people suffer from SADD Anny and I think sunlamps are great for that from what I hear.

Regina Carlysle said...

I don't mind the winter temps either, Melissa it's just the ugliness of it. Mud, Slush, skeletal trees. siiiigh. I truly suffer in the summer because of the heat (baaaad age) but I dearly love the cheerfulness of sunshine.

alex said...

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Natalie Dae said...

Guess I figure, who do I need to impress?

Now stop right there, woman! You can impress yourself. Look how it made you feel to have those nails--it's worth it just for the sense of well-being.

I've discovered that if you feel good about yourself, your demenour changes. Works for me. This year I vowed to impress myself, and so far it's working. I've been so much happier.

So, if you want to dress up today and look all fancy, even though you're not going out...do it. Slap on some makeup, and even though you're just sitting at your desk, man, it makes you feel so much better.

I dare you to have a dress-up day!

:o)

Regina Carlysle said...

Thanks, Alex! Keeping visiting. We love to have you.

Regina Carlysle said...

A dress up day? You're right, I should do it, Nat. Could do wonders for my state of mind!

Tess MacKall said...

Watermelon. God did you have to mention watermelon? Now I've got to go to the grocery store. I soooooo want watermelon. sighhhhh

Love the nails. lol