11 days 'til Christmas, as time passes

"Season of changes," 5 x 7 acrylic Christmas card

As winter approaches, and the moon announces another season, and thoughts turn to Christmas, change fills the air, as we pass though gates of time in our lives.

Remembering what is past, valuing thee present, hoping for a future, the season's bright holiday lights symbolize all three moods.

When a moon rises

"Desert Moonrise," 5 x 7 acrylic on canvas board

 We're halfway between full moons according to our calendar, though ancients measured time by the phases of the moon.

The full moon influences more than just ocean tides, but those of moods, memories and more.

So here's today's little painting, thinking of time passing.

Full Moon Rising

"Full Moon Rising," 9 x 12 acrylic on canvas panel

Look at the moon.

When I need hope for today, for a future, in these dark days of war and hatred, of discrimination and unfairness, of propaganda and politics, of inhumanity and hypocrisy, in  Ukraine or the United States or even Oklahoma, we need hope. When helpless amid war crimes against a country, or hate crimes against races, or political crimes against genders and religions and beliefs and words,  I treasure nature, and especially the moon.

No, it won't make any of those attacks on our humanity go away. But it's one light in the darkness that we need so much...a reminder that we are brief, that you can count on nature, that creation can be beautiful in spite of us. And that is hope.

Today's painting. No matter humanity or its lack of humanity,  the full moon will rise.

Manzano moon shadows

"Manzano Moon Shadows," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb d'Arches rough press paper

Study in blue, first painting of 2021...full moon shadows in the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico

Inspired this week by the shadows of bare tree branches on snow outside my window in the middle of the night. 

Palette: Manganese blue, Peacock blue, Ultramarine blue, Royal blue, Prussian blue

Moon Memories

"Iowa Moon," 5 x 7 watercolor Christmas card

Full moon again tonight, the last of this pandemic year, a year when we need beauty, stability, promise more than ever. Such is a full moon.

Memories, photos, paintings, writings, travels, histories, and more through the ages--most of them intensely personal for countless people. In the past 11 years on this blog alone,  I've painted the moon, and/or written about it and its effects, its tides, on me alone, more than 20 times.  You only have to search the word on this blog to see.

As the year nears end, and my annual holiday card project, there have been some certain cards for special people. So it is with today's post.

"Iowa Moon," 5 x 7 Christmas card, from memories of years in Iowa, and of a specific farmhouse for my friend, Iowan Mary Carver.

Moon Memories

"Moonlight Memories," 5 x 7 watercolor holiday greeting card

           "Memory, all alone in the moonlight.
             I can dream of the old days, life was beautiful then."

                                                     --From Cats

Another full moon has become a memory today. In this world of sickness, racism, violence and hard times, it's been good to gaze into the night sky and see beauty, and remember good times.

There is comfort in knowing  the full moon will be back once more this year. For us uncertain mortals, it's good to be able to count on that, to anticipate more light and beauty and memories as this dark year comes to a close.

Full Moon Greeting

"Greetings," 5 x 7 watercolor greeting card

November's full moon is almost here, bringing beauty and memories into the sky.

Also known as the cold or frosty moon, and the beaver moon, it's the last full moon before the winter solstice.

All I know is that, regardless of names, I look forward to full moons...they light up the night, my memories and my moods. When shining on snow, they're almost magic.

Today's greeting card,  the almost full moon rising, the last light of the sun perhaps, with a warm yellow. However, the next two days will indeed be "cold" moons.

Cold Moon moods, and planets

"Cold Full Moon," 5 x 7 watercolor card

The full moon brings moods and magic  and memories to me, and its gravity has always pulled me, like tides. Tonight two planets, Venus and Saturn, will add to the magic.

Here's a link to a chapter from my unfinished novel: "Time for the Moon."

The Old Farmers' Almanac says tonight's December full moon is sometimes called the Full Cold Moon, though it is a moon of many names, depending on geography or Native American tribes.
My favorite would be the Cree name, translated as the "Hoar Frost Moon" or the Hopi, whose ceremonies honored lunar and solar cycles,  "Sparrow-Halk Moon." China's ancients termed it the "Winter Month" moon, because it is so close to winter solstice.
In my imagination,  and thus the watercolor, on the Great Plains, or in the West, I'd just step outside to view the magic.
Here, I'll have to leave our neighborhood because of the trees to see it rise, and on the opposite horizon, in the southwest, shortly after sunset, Venus and Saturn will be almost touching, but they won't be up long before they set, as the "Full Cold Moon" rises shortly after sunset.

Shadows of a season--today's watercolor

Shadows of a season, watercolor, 5.5" by 8.5 inches

Bare limbs cast shadows these days and nights, especially as the moon nears full. Over snow, you can sense the season, imagine travel to places far away. They're the bare bones of life, creating patterns that change with each passing minute, just like our lives.

Seven Days to Christmas--Christmas moon

Full Winter Moon--5 by 8 watercolor