Happy Winter Solstice everyone! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the Holiday Season! We here in the Northeast have been enjoying a December that reminds me of what it was like growing up, with a few measurable snows and by far the coldest on average that I can remember in some time. Although a bit of a warm up and rain recently decimated a lovely 3 inches we had on the ground, we may just have a little something coming again Monday night into Tuesday, fingers crossed here…!❄️☃️❄️
If you’ve been following along through the Autumn on my photo features and stories, you may have noticed that I never did get to finalizing that last Autumn highlight I promised, which I had planned as a Thanksgiving related post. But, I am working hard internally to not let this crush my creative spirits and to just keep making forward progress. In fact, I plan to send it out in just a few days as a Christmas time post instead. And if the forces of Nature are willing, I will not spontaneously combust by doing something a little out of season or out of order.😬😂 Who knows, maybe it will even benefit me?! 🤯 After all, the true meaning of it is still relevant.
But, for today, I merely wanted to send out a warming welcome to Winter and all of its majesty! Wrap up in a blanket and enjoy this frosted forest accompanied by a combination of 2 separate journal entries that are a kind of stream of consciousness writing direct from my journals while at a cabin getaway nestled in its Kingdom…
“Kingdom of Winter” - Northeast Kingdom, VT
From my journal entries January 30th, 2019 and February 9th, 2020 - Alderbrook Cottage, A Tiny House in the Woods…
“These past few days have been something out of a pure Winter dream, void of time and space. I don’t think my words can or will really ever be able to comprehend it. Chalk it up to being just part of the New England charm.
Anna and I arrived in Vermont Saturday evening the 26th of January after making my artwork delivery to a wonderful couple in Medford, Massachusetts. We found Kingdom Taproom for dinner and local brews in St. Johnsbury before getting settled at the Inn by the River in Hardwick, VT. A lovely little inn in a quaint little town, the likes I am convinced only New England can produce. On the morning of the 27th we dined on Jasper Benedicts at the Village Restaurant, reveling in our eggs benedict smothered in world-class Jasper Hill cheese while snow came falling down in this beautiful, charming town. After picking up some supplies, and a few drives back and forth on the road looking for our parking, we arrived here at 3pm.
Facing a ridge rolling with Spruce, Fir, and Birch and crossing a footbridge over the stream and up the rocky, snow covered steps into the forest, our tiny home cabin awaited… The fact that it snowed all afternoon and evening upon our arrival only added to the quintessential Vermontness of our adventure!
These three days have been everything one could want Winter in Vermont to be… Snow, fresh powder sticking to the evergreens and hardwoods. Cold, crisp clean air, single digits to negatives in crystal clear blue skies and dark rich star filled nights. Sitting by the wood stove, cozy and warm, snuggling with my love, eating world-class cheeses, drinking world-class beers, cooking meats, grilled sandwiches and beef stew all upon the wood fire stove top. Relaxing, playing Scrabble and drinking coffee and tea while eating maple cookies and reading, re-connecting…
The wonders of Winter are alive and well in this place more than any other I have ever witnessed. The silence and pure clean air are a testimony to this snowy kingdom and the true majesty of the season. And being able to share this with Anna, whom I just admired breathing in the brisk glory outside the cabin window only adds warmth to the heartiness of my soul.
Snow, falling down again. Sparkling diamond-dusted snowflakes adding inches to the feet already piled up upon the ground down there somewhere. Hiking, rather trudging, through knee-high, waist-high snow depending how deep I might fall in with each step, I explored the forest of this ridge amongst blissful quiet, peace, and solitude. It makes me feel like a kid again, buried this deep in snow and calm and quiet amongst this wooded Winter haven.
It all seems like a dream, yet I am acutely aware that I am living it - this snow draped dream, one of magic in the Kingdom of Winter.”
In Solstice Celebration,
All my best,
Brandon