The Necessity of Winter

There is nothing easy about an absence of light or an absence of warmth. In fact, many people suffer from a recognized mood disorder called winter depression or winter blues. "People who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter ... repeatedly, year after year. The US National Library of Medicine notes that 'some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed ... symptoms can be severe.'" (wikipedia)

It's almost mid-February and those of us in the northern hemisphere have been making (suffering) our way through winter for some time now. Most of us are ready for Spring, to say the very least. However, while it might be difficult, maybe we should take a closer look at Winter. I firmly believe that all things are necessary and accordingly, Winter too, must be necessary. So why? Why the cold, why the dark, why the sadness & the emptiness?



image from: Michael Stadik


Something I learned recently (being the novice gardener that I am) is that many Spring-flowering bulbs -- tulip, hyacinth, daffodil, crocus and iris -- are planted in Autumn. These flowers, the first signs of Spring, are actually in the ground through the entire harshness of Winter. Not only are these flowers able to survive Winter, but they need it. If it were as simple as putting the bulbs in the ground come the warmth of May, we would do that but we can not.

As I've been hinting, I am using the metaphor of plants for two reasons. The first is that plants have an amazing ability to survive Winter. The second is that, in some cases, plants actually need winter.

Survival mode. Plants go into survival mode during Winter primarily because of water. Water expands when it freezes and if a plant cell freezes, like a frozen water pipe, it will burst. In order to prevent such damage from occurring, plants become dormant. They cease all reactions that require water. They do not grow and they produce a substance like antifreeze to prevent any serious damage. These processes begin to occur as the days grow shorter. By the first Winter frost, plants are generally in full-on survival mode. In extremely cold climates, plants can take further steps to protect themselves, including moving water out of cells and leaving behind only the substances that can tolerate cold. The expelled water sits frozen between cells without breaking the cells open. In extreme states of dormancy, plants can count the number of hours that they spend below freezing. Plants in this phase will not wake up until enough cold time has passed and if a few warm hours pass (a false Winter-thaw, for example) they do not respond.

The necessity. Planting perennials in Autumn gives them time to establish healthy root systems. New perennials planted in Spring must survive summer heat and stress with very young root systems while still producing enough nutrients to support months of growth and flowering. By planting shrubs and trees in the fall, roots have a chance to grow all Autumn, and most of the Winter as well, without having to supply nourishment for the busy growing season as well.

Roots of Autumn-planted plants will continue growing as long as the ground temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit which can give them several months of head start growth time. Plants put in the ground in the Autumn need less water to establish. All plants need plenty of water while they are in the “establishment” stage and growing strong root systems through the surrounding soil, however by planting in Autumn gardeners will conserve water without the heat of Summer stressing the plants. Plants themselves use less water since photosynthesis is slowed by shorter days. Evaporation rates slow down during Autumn so water in the soil lasts longer as well. (plantbulbs.suite101.com)

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Now that we've seen how other living things survive and benefit from Winter, let's put aside the plant metaphor now and look at ourselves. I think that we all go into survival mode during Winter. Aside from colorful scarves, warm mittens and hot chocolate we must learn what we need to get through the long stretches of darkness. Depending on where you are in the world, you've got potentially another two or three months of Winter to go. Find out what protects you, what saves you. Maybe it is cuddling in front of the fireplace. Maybe it is breaking out your sketch book & pencils to draw snowflakes or sunsets over frozen lakes. Maybe it is planning a weekend get away to the nearest ski slope and putting on your best snow bunny attire.

Beyond simply surviving, allow yourself to discover why Winter is necessary to you. Because it is! Whether you live in the remotest mountains of Maine or the warmest region of SoCal, Winter is Winter. Winter serves a purpose. Immerse yourself in it. Focus on your personal hibernation. Allow your mind & your body to shut down for a little while if that is what they are aching to do. Remember that Spring is never too far off. Prepare yourself for your own personal, amazing renaissance.

Optimism

image from michael chricton


"Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, it’s unlikely you will step up and take responsibility for making it so. If you assume that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things, there’s a chance you may contribute to making a better world. The choice is yours."

-- Noam Chomsky

Origami

image from coldhearted

I absolutely love origami. I think that it is simple yet beautiful. I love the way that paper cranes look hanging from a ceiling. Origami makes a gorgeous gift, too.

For years I have wanted to learn to make a paper crane & I hope that this is the year that I finally do it. I went looking for a simple video tutorial and I found one here at 5min.com.

From wikipedia: Origami (折り紙, origami) (from oru meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper") is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper.

Origami only uses a small number of different folds, but they can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The most well known form is probably the Japanese paper crane. In general, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be different colors or prints.

Have you ever done origami, given it as a gift, or used it as room decor? I would love to hear about it or to see some photographs.

Thigh High Socks

image from fransieman


The thigh high socks that I bought on ebay came in the mail yesterday! I am so excited. I think they are absolutely adorable/sexy. I can't wait until the weather gets warmer (it's been below zero for a few days now) so that I can pair them with a denim skirt and a white tee/sweater.

Of the two pair that I bought, one is powder blue and one is powder pink, both with white stripes at the top. I've worn thigh high stockings before and I think that they are very sexy but they can be difficult. Even with elastic they tend to slip down and garters can be tricky. So far the socks seem to be staying in place & very comfortable. Have any of you tried them? How have your experiences been? Do you think they are cute or a total faux-pas? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Eternal Necklace

I've always wanted a piece of jewelry from Swarovski. I think that crystals are gorgeous. I love the way that they catch light & sparkle. However, I am not much for buying myself expensive jewelry. I am happy with my four dollar, gaudy rings from Forever 21.

This year we bought my boyfriend's mother a necklace/pin from Swarovski and the purchase entitled us to a $25.00 gift certificate. The necklace was on sale from $90.00 to $63.00 and then I had the $25.00 gift card. The rest is history. I absolutely love this necklace. It is even more beautiful in person.

Here is the description from the web site:

Eternal Necklace
Sale

Rhodium-plated necklace with bird-motif element in clear crystal pavé and round White Opal crystal bead.

Size: 15 / 7/8 x 1 3/16 inch

Prayer

--taken from The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coelho





"...In your infinite pity, O Lord, help us never to turn our knowledge against ourselves.

Have pity on those who pity themselves and who see themselves as good people treated unfairly by life - who feel that they do not deserve what has befallen them. Such people will never be able to fight the good fight. And pity those who are cruel to themselves and who see only the evil in their own actions, feeling that they are to blame for the injustice in the world.

Have pity on those who command and those who serve during long hours of work, and who sacrifice themselves in exchange merely for a Sunday off, only to find that there is nowhere to go, and everything is closed. But also have pity on those who sanctify their efforts, and who are able to go beyond the bounds of their own madness, winding up indebted, or nailed to the cross by their very brothers.

Have pity on those who may conquer the world but never join the good fight within themselves. But pity also those who have won the good fight within themselves, and now find themselves in the streets and the bars of life because they were unable to conquer the world.

Have pity on those who are fearful of taking up a pen, or a paintbrush, or an instrument, or a tool because they are afraid that someone has already done so better than they could, and who feel themselves to be unworthy to enter the marvelous mansion of art. But have even more pity on those who, having taken up the pen, or the paintbrush, or the instrument, or the tool, have turned inspiration into a paltry thing, and yet feel themselves to be better than the others.

Pity those who eat and drink and sate themselves, but are unhappy and alone in their saiety. But pity even more those who fast, and who censure and prohibit, and who thereby see themselves as saints, preaching your name in the streets.

Pity those who fear death, and are unaware of the many kingdoms through which they have already passed, and the many deaths they have already suffered and who are unhappy because they think that one day their world will end. But have even more pity for those who already know their many deaths, and today think of themselves as immortal.

Have pity on those who bind themselves with the silken ties of love, and think of themselves as master of others, and who feel envy, and poison themselves, and who torture themselves because they cannot see that love and all things change like the wind. But pity even more those who die of their fear of loving and who reject love in the name of a greater love that they know not.

Pity those who reduce the cosmos to an explanation, God to a magic potion, and humanity to beings with basic needs that must be satisfied, because they never hear the music of the spheres. But have even more pity on those who have blind faith, and who in their laboratories transform mercury into gold, and who are surrounded by their books about the secrets of the Tarot and the power of the pyramids.

Pity those who see no one but themselves, and for whom others are a blurred and distant scenario as they pass through the streets in their limousines and lock themselvs in their air-conditioned penthouse offices, as they suffer in silence the solitude of power. But pity even more those who will do anything for anybody, and are charitable and seek to win out over evil only through love.

Have pity, Lord, on we who seek out and dare to take up the sword that you have promised, and who are a saintly and sinful lot scattered throughout the world. Because we do not recognize even ourselves, and often think that we are dressed, but we are nude; we believe that we have committed a crime, when in reality we have saved someone's life. And do not forget in your pity for all of us that we hold the sword with the hand of an angel and hand of a devil, and that they are both the same hand. Because we are of the world, and we continue to be of the world, and we have need of thee. We will always be in need of thy law that says, 'When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, you lacked nothing.'"

Greenest House in the U.S.

guest writer: Alisha Bruton

My boyfriend, Dustin Moon, and his brother, Garrett Moon, are about to build the "greenest" house yet in the United States. They are in the process of dismantling an old house on their property (carefully, they are re-using as much of the old material as possible) and have the plans already drafted for the new house.



Dustin and Garrett on the roof


The Oregonian did a front-page article about the house, which you can read here. Here are some of the details of the house and what they mean.

+Greywater System
The water used to flush your toilets is white water, or drinking-quality water. This is completely unnecessary; who (but perhaps the dog) needs drinking water in their toilets? It would be sufficient to use grey water. Grey water is water that has been used once by humans, either in a shower or sink. This house will be plumbed to use grey water from showers and sinks to flush toilets.

+Rainwater Catchment System
We here in the sunny Pacific Northwest get rain almost 9 months a year. Much of it washes down the sewers and into the Willamette River, along with oil, chemicals and trash. Often, during heavy rains, the sewage pipes overflow and sewage gets dumped into the river (and people water-ski and fish in it!). Dustin and Garrett's house will have a rainwater catchment system, which will collect rainwater and store it in a 12,000+ gallon cistern for use in the house, instead of city water. This also keeps the rainwater out of the sewers. If more people did this, we would have much cleaner rivers!

+Passive Solar
In the winter in the northern hemisphere, the sun moves at a low angle across the southern sky, from east to west, thus making the south wall of the house the most receptive to solar heat gain. The house is a rectangle, with the long sides facing south and north. The south side of the house will be mainly built of glass, allowing the sun to warm the space when needed. A screen of wooden slats (angled with respect to the angle of the sun's rays, as to block direct rays but not all light) will be slid into place in summer when no warming is needed. An alternative to the slats is to have deciduous plants growing on a trellis, their leaves will block sun in summer, but, leafless, they will allow light by in the colder months.

+Clear-span
The house will be clear-span; the roof and floor span from one side to the other, not dependent on support from the interior walls (those dividing the rooms). This means that all the interior walls can be torn down and the floor turned into one common space, or new walls can be built to create a completely different floor-plan. This offers complete flexibility to future owners of the house with minimal work and waste.



Dustin and his father playing it safe

You can check out the house's website at: pdxlivingbuilding.com and their flickr stream at Res Communis' Photos. I'll write future posts about the house as the process continues!