“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Winter Weary Doldrums . . .

Yes, I am finally at that point where I am getting tired of winter.  Mainly I am tired of this bitter, nasty cold and biting winds that have been hanging around here for the past week. It has finally warmed up to +10F/-12C degrees outside. Yesterday was a shocking -7F/-22C degrees.  I know some of you further north had even colder temperatures.




The thing is, where the heck is the snow?  Ours has almost melted away from our warmer weather a few weeks ago.  Now we have ugly brown patches and plants sticking out from the snow.  I fear for my poor garden.  Will anything survive the freeze-drying atmosphere? We had a dusting of snow overnight, but not enough to make any real difference, just a nuisance snow. I want real snow, pretty snow that blankets and protects my plants and makes my yard look beautiful. Oh well, we can't control nature, it does what it does.  So what's a person supposed to do?


Regular photo setting

Enhanced with color levels.
Backlighting


Well, since it's way to cold to go outside, frostbite in five minutes cold, I will catch you up on what I have been doing. I have been messing around with my new camera that I got for Christmas. Trying all sorts of weird settings to see what it will do.  Trying to perfect my product photos for my shop.  I even pulled out my water colors for a few minutes the other day and painted a snow man. I started working on taxes and organizing receipts and doing inventory for my shop. Which makes me want to cry, I hate that kind of stuff.  I've also been paying bills, reading about how to improve my shop, reading all the millions of topics on the Etsy forums. Have you ever looked at all that mess those comments and suggestions?  It makes a person want to take up drinking!

product photos

pinecone reindeer


My poor car is finally out of the shop and after thousands of dollars, I can drive it again.  It's still better than a new car payment! Still seeing the bill is a real bummer. The other fun thing I have been doing is trying to figure out how to set up a Google+ account and business page. I have run across of few of you good folks out there.  Thanks for your kind comments, I'm glad to know that I am not the only one that finds this new fangled technology somewhat confusing. If you are not familiar with the word "fangled", then you know I am much older than you! Anyway if you are a Google+ enthusiast please "Circle" me and "Plus" me and pass my shop page around to your friends that might be interested in my stuff.  It is on the right side of the page, just under my bio.



etsy type look



I plussed myself, I'm sure that is against Google+ etiquette! Also sometime soon, I am going to do a give-away of something from my shop or inventory. I still haven't decided yet what that will be. I'm still making it through everyone's blogs, if I haven't been there to visit lately, I apologize.  I will get there eventually. Meanwhile I will be trying to work myself out of the winter-weary-doldrums!


soft effect

toy camera effect

What do you do to get through the long winters?





17 comments:

  1. No snow in Minnesota? WTF? We had a few relatively snowless winters a few years ago and it was very, VERY hard on the trees. They really depend on the winter snowpack to get the moisture they need to survive.

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  2. I share your frustration. I'm tired of winter, too. And it's really, really, and did I mention, REALLY cold out this week. We don't have much snow either this year. Last year was even worse --- very, very dry. The summer that just passed was extremely dry and hot, which took a huge toll on the garden (I lost some plants to it), so I'm not sure what to expect when the garden wakes up in a few weeks after a winter with little snow. We shall see. In the meantime, I am trying to keep busy...counting the days till spring.

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  3. I hear you! This has to be the worst period of the year. Right now it's -13 here and snowing to beat the band -- and I still haven't shovelled up from the snowfall we received on Monday, lol!! Sorry to complain about snow. I guess like everything else in life, it's all relative. I do share your concern about your trees and bushes - a blanket of snow does indeed help to protect them. I live in the same city as Debra and everything certainly does suffer the years we don't have snow. To get through the winter doldrums I read a lot (especially enjoy my garden coffee table books - they give me hope) and paw through antique/second hand shops. Occasionally, I go to the big mall and just walk around and have a coffee - I generally hate malls, but they provide for a change of scenery (people, plants, water features) in the winter.

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  4. I love seeing all the different effects through your camera. Winter is tedious at times, there's less to do and it's miserably cold. I think we all like the idea of it more than the reality. I am pretty desperate for some sunshine. I tend to read a lot and snuggle up at every opportunity.

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  5. It's been awhile since I enjoyed a full-blown -40 degree Ontario winter -- trust me, when you swelter in 30 degree humidity every day, you really start to miss it haha.. Your "Etsy type look" is so right on -- I have no idea how to achieve it, and don't even try. I get the impression many shops rely on their professional-type photography and editing to boost popularity and sales -- it's tough on technophobes like me lol!

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  6. HeeHee! Winter! I see we can all relate! I often go to our Arboretum and visit their conservatory, it is full of tropical plants and moisture! I just sit there for a few minutes and pretend I am in Florida or the Carib. B&R, I try for the Etsy look in my photos and must say that those are the ones that get featured most in treasuries! I usually edit my photos with two or three different programs to get the look I want. Very tedious, but free!

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  7. Ugh! I'm with you on being sick of winter. This week the temps have been in the teens but with the wind chills, it feels like 2 degrees out! By the time I get home from work, I'm so tired that I just want to hibernate for the rest of winter.

    Loving the Etsy camera effect, really looks great. How did you do it?

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  8. I have to say I have not faced that problem. South Florida is always so warm and this time of the year has been very pretty. Bright and sunny. We do however, tend to burn or roast during the summer.

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  9. Hey Diane ;o) I love the cold! And, I love winter. I don't get the blues sorry! I always find, when it's very cold, we don't get the snow. It has to be milder, then we get snow. We are the same as you, freezing and very little snow! Are all the things you have showed on your blog, going to be in your store? Some really cute items!! I don't know anything about the Google + thing sorry! Keep smiling on smiling and have fun! Winter will be over soon ;o)

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    1. The two items at the top of the post will be for sale (the book and the cat with the 'tree tail') eventually when I get around to listing them! I was never into Facebook, and Google+ is the next new thing. Several of the Etsy teams are promoting it, so I finally signed up. I really don't mind winter until it gets ugly like this! Glad you are enjoying yourself up north!

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  10. Dear Diane - I think everyone who lives where winter visits begins to feel the same way. I like you am ready for spring. Can't imagine Minnesota without snow. We are going to have 1-3 inches tomorrow here in my part of Ohio. It has been very cold but nothing like your temps. I get you when it comes to all this new-fangled technology - I am sure we are of the same vintage (LOL) - will have to call in my nephew to help me when I get stuck - he is 15 and quite the computer whiz. Thank goodness for that younger generation. May you and Guy Noir stay warm.

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    1. Yes Debbie, I like that age term you used, from now on we will be known as "Vintage"! The cold has been getting to me, today it is a balmy 17F. When it was -7 the other day, Guy was ready to come in after 5 minutes, (so was I). I take Guy and Dot outside for cat "recess" at least once a day for 10-15 minutes.

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  11. I know what you mean, it's been cold (not as cold as your place but below freezing) here with lots of fog and gray skies. We've had very little snow so everything looks brown. Freezing rain for tonight.

    I love all those cute kitties!

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  12. Winter Weary Doldrums in MN is exactly right! I'm sooooo with you on that!
    I think we will get a little snow tonight. Can't say that snow will make my "weary doldrums" any better though! Haa!
    I think the only thing that will make it better is SPRING!
    Lets hope for an early one!
    Erica :)

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  13. Dear Diane, "New fangled" are two words I use almost every day, so I know exactly where you are coming from!
    We had a little snow. It looked pretty, but now it’s raining (again) and our back garden has once again disappeared under water. The good news? The snowdrops and primroses are flowering against all the odds, and it will soon be March.
    I’m going to Google+ this post as soon as I’ve left my comment – every little helps.
    I would love to know if you do manage to figure out Google+ business pages. I’m afraid it’s all beyond me!

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