loving winter

the dark, cold, post-christmas part? not so much a fan. but the cozy-indoor forward momentum of a this time of winter? count me in! this is a great time of year, i've discovered, not only to read but to sign up for classes (art, cooking and otherwise...) and play lots of music. (currently trying to make sense of shostakovich's 5th symphony).

when i give after school lessons i find that, although it makes for more planning and longer school days, i am grateful for the color, creativity and (mostly) joyful noises that come with it all. outside the branches creak and moan with cold...but inside me at least, it's spring. what's your secret to a happy january?