December sanctuary

"December Santuary," 5 by 7 watercolor card

Barns grab  my attention and interest, wherever I go, wherever I live, though I'm not sure why.
The old weathered ones, whether huge wooden structures typical in the Midwest, or small ones, barely more than sheds in the West, beckon my imagination with untold stories.
They're symbols, icons of rural life, with a distinctive odors of livestock, hay, dust, and old equipment. 
But they're also sanctuaries for rural life, especially in cold winter weather in December and later. They hold hope for the future, as in the words of the poet, "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
And long ago, a sanctuary for a newborn baby.

(Day 11 of 31 December watercolors)

December seasoning

Season of seasoning, 5 by 7 watercolor card

Season of seasoning...December means making a big pot of chili, where I come from, New Mexico.
But to make it with the right seasoning, you need chile peppers. The state question is "Red or green," and when eating out there, I always ask for "Christmas" (both), on the side, never knowing which one will be so hot I only use it sparingly.
Now we buy red chile powder in New Mexico, and green chiles for roasting. Both go into the frig or freezer until time for making chili, or green chile stew, or posole. Other ingredients come from the store, but never include canned chili.
The results, including how much "bite" there is,  vary with every batch as there are no set measurements for the red powder or green chiles added to the big simmering pot. There's always enough to freeze to bring out with the next cold snap, and I've found the "bite" tends to increase with time.
Every time I visit New Mexico, I think of chili and chiles, especially seeing the red chili pod ristras hanging from adobe walls, more than decorations, but part of the seasoning of the season.

(Day 10 of 31 December watercolors)

December Dust

"Adobe Dreams," 5 by 7 watercolor card

December ends another year as days and lives grow shorter. 
The old saying, "From dust to dust" may have lost its relevancy in a society surrounded by artificial materials, where we live in air-conditioned cocoon world of plastic and metal and brick. 
But when you live in the West, dust is alive, andI think when you live in an adobe dwelling, always surrounded by mother earth, dust is always a part of you. 
I love the color of adobes in New Mexico reflecting the infinite colors of the ever-changing skies, just as our lives do, on this celestial journey. Are we not stardust, traveling dust unto dust?

(Day 9 of 31 December watercolors)

December cabin weather

"Cabin Weather," 5 by 7 watercolor card

Cold weather arrives the deeper  into December's calendar the days go. Sooner or later there will be wind and snow and ice perhaps, and then it will be good to be warm in a cabin, with a fireplace, books, loved ones.

(Day 8 of 31 December watercolors.)

December lights

December Lights, 5 by 7 watercolor card

December, a month of more darkness than daylight, in northern latitudes, when people decorate with holiday lights, in celebration, but also warding off the gloom of winter.
But there's a bigger light show in the far north. I've been fortunate to be Alaska, but not in the winter, and  have not seen the spectacular light shows of the Northern lights. 
Maybe some day. The only time I've seen those lights was long ago in Iowa, but they were just a red glow on the horizon. 
I'm thankful for the Instagram account @CabinLife for the light shows and the inspiration for this card.

(Daily Watercolor  7 of 31)