Sometime around the middle of December, the activity in the shop will drop off. In contrast to just a few weeks earlier when the shop teemed with work, it now has a sort of calm peace about it.
I’ll go through and do a thorough cleanout to get rid of all the dust, chips, and shavings, but the scent of varnish, tung oil, and wood will remain.
I am too busy until about the sixth of January to think about this lull. But after that, as the winter sinks in and wears on, I crave the relief the shop routine brings. Just to be clear, January and most of February wear on me. I can think of not a single particle of value in those months that comes without hard toil -hard toil with a snow shovel and snow blower at that.
Why mention this now while I am busy? Because if there is to be a single sterling moment during that time, it comes from thinking now of projects that need development during that lull. Now I’m looking at things I see that I’ve never done but would like to try. I now think of portraits I’d love to be challenged by. And now, I am thinking of trying new materials and techniques.
The lights will be on in February late at night as I sit in the shop fiddling with something new. The neighbors might wonder what the hell is going on. I’ll be making slow progress in my craft and keeping the worst of winter at bay.
What a gorgeous photo of your workshop!
I would be sitting in there staring at the snow. You have a great spot to just meditate. I get mesmerized even though I moved from here after shoveling 6 ft of it over and over again my last winter. My husband rode the garden tracker with a plow and a snow thrower. For me it’s cozy time. I need the rest from pushing so hard all fall to get ready for Christmas and I’m NEVER ready. ;(
We are all of us never ready. It’s one of those things that the “life coach” people try to teach – acceptance of never being ready…but I bet that being you and I are strivers, we get to “almost” ready most of the time!
Almost is in every sentence. 🙂 I just keep adding to the list which is why I keep falling so far behind. I agree with you. we will probably both just give it our all and breathe a sigh of relief when it’s all done.