Staycation Highlights

Whilst many of the snow birds flew south I continue my northern diversions this holiday week, starting by visiting two fabulous artists and their events. I am delighted to have first caught Michael Mahnke’s “Memory in Materials” show with the vertical diptych “Noble” and then Valerie Hammond’s pieces in The Current’s fabulous “In the Garden” collective show. Inspiration is a much sought after sensation these days, especially in its absence, but drinking in these images did the trick. Light and color and movement usually does; these two paintings are elixirs, starting my week on a high.

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Survival? for sure

There is much discussion about the record-breaking cloudiest January since the 1950’s here in Vermont this year, and all I can say is wow, I fully appreciate and understand those Snow Birds who migrate to Florida these dark months. But as a person still actively employed, tied to this grey-scale region, I do what I can to find the tiny puffs of beauty in a muffled sky along with the delicately nuanced sparkle in the white landscape. Mostly I look inward during this wintering mode, but there are social engagements that prove to be a boon to anyone’s mood during these weeks without sunshine, and engaging in those is a must. Two good survival tips to consider during these last few wintery months: Get outside alone, but celebrate inside with your gals too.

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A Dragon, Super bowl, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day

What a week! The dragon has entered the conversation, capturing our imagination with all the thrill and anticipation of a new George R. R. Martin novel. That soaring scaly fire-breathing beast can both incinerate an entire village and still allow Khaleesi to direct its fury. As we slide further into 2024 one can only dream this powerful authority will grant us abundance and good fortune. Might we hope that a beast with deadly talons and a powerful tail will sweep ignorance out of view to reveal truth?

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