Watercolor therapy

The holidays can be lonely, even with people around. I'm reminded of the wide open spaces of the Southwest, of snows that blankets the present and make the scattered ranches and homes even more remote. Where there are no cell phones, maybe not even electricity. What you have is a wood burning stove, a kerosene lantern, a dog for company, some hot chili, maybe a book, a warm woolen blanket...and memories. No noise. The only sounds are the crackling of the wood and the cold winter wind outside. The stars are so bright in the brittle clear air, reflecting on the snow, that you can see almost as well as in the light of the full moon.

Those thoughts add value to the people in my life as I begin painting watercolor Christmas cards this season.