wants vs needs

Here in New England, the subzero temperatures have settled in. We are prepared, of course, with five cords of fire wood, homemade clam chowder on the stove, extra blankets on the bed, and good tunes on our speakers. This is the time of year for hibernation: short days and lack of sun. A time, quite frankly, when the walls start closing in. We are halfway through January as we hear cabin fever knocking on our door.

During winter we simplify and downsize and make do. We marvel in the first snowfall, the second and the third... then we hunker down with layers and gear as we welcome all the white that creates our winter world.

Wants vs needs are discussed. Needed: indoor space. Wanted: hot cocoa. I try to accommodate both at the same time assess my own needs as a mother, partner, and individual. What I'm finding I want and need (in addition to space and hot cocoa) is color. I seek it out in the grocery store, with sweet daffodils to bring home. I find it in vintage aprons and art room color wheels. I browse wantingly through my photo archives looking for a brightness that pops. 

Help me brighten my white winter world today, share with us your favorite color!

Comments

[Caryn]

Some soft desert color for you... http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/16366/

[Marcie]

A little red in the winter landscape:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/1/16/beacon-of-color.html
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/1/15/where-winter-lives.html

[marina]

gorgeous colourful capture!
I can relate so much to your need for colours, here's some red found inside my home:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mar_s/6652201663/in/photostream

[Victoria Meadows - Washington Boudoir Photographer]

Ok ladies, I hate to be perverted, but on a cold winter day, you forgot one "need" and thats sex by the fire!

[nathalie]

shall I warm you with some colourful photos from France ?
portra 400 films have a gorgeous way with subtle tones :)
http://nathaliecausse.blogspot.com/

[Gotta Run]

a bit of color from austin - flip happy

[Gotta Run]

oops, forgot link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottarun2009/6534483655/in/set-72157627535058945

[lisa]

living in hong kong we often encounter gray days, so i frequently revisit my pics from summers in new england or lucky jaunts in southeast asia. but that perfectly clear day does occur here, and with delight!
p.s. my oldest "baby" is now a freshman in college in maine - he too loves those clear cold days (as opposed to the gray ones!) it's nice knowing he's in good company across the globe.

i love this site - beautiful shots!

[lisa]

oops - not sure if this will go through ...

[claudia]

I'm not sure it's my favorite color, but if it means less snow this year, then it's my favorite color right now ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/6676487255/

[soonie2]

Yellow is my "go to" color during the drab, late winter months. So warm and bright and HAPPY!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44351311@N04/6714658589/

[Kendra]

Yesterday I went to an art exhibit put on by the Architects of Air called "Luminaria". They inflate these large "tent" structures. The colored lines you see let in light to the inside of the tent, flooding the inside with colors, all mixing and moving. It's quite the sensation to wander around and just absorb. (that plus the 75 degree weather we're having, ithink you should come down!)

The pictures I took don't do them justice in the slightest. It is truly something to be experienced in person.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triana/sets/72157628904354035/

[Heather]

I hear ya! This is the time of year when I start getting out the neon yarn :)

http://joyfulwise.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/une-petite-chouette/

[Brenda]

Even in the depths of winter - color. I have never thought of orange as a "favorite" color but have found it appearing in my work more often than I would have imagined.

http://flic.kr/p/bdTzNZ

And a post on the beauty of the "golden hour" - a favorite color combination of bronze and violet:

http://www.gottgraphicsdesign.com/2012/01/16/sun-bronzed/

[Sandee]

I was looking for color yesterday. Pretty drab here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34977978@N05/6711629451/

[Patty]

A little California color after yesterday's rain:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadicnotebook/6715297481/

[Becky Sue]

Purple has been my favorite color since I wore a gold polyester lined/dark purple faux fur coat when I was a kid. I think I had purple plaid Toughskin bell bottoms too! Dating myself. :) Wishing I still had both.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/6715545397/

[Allice]

Orange, purple and green - not my favourite colours - but working with someone else's palette helped me see the beauty in them http://piecemealpieces.blogspot.com/2012/01/bit-of-weekend-sewing.html and yes, even with no snow on the gound I do go looking for colour in winter to shake off the winter doldrums.

[Jodi]

I was surprised to find some color and beauty in nature last week. It does exist, even in the middle of January.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64098150@N08/6654709141/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64098150@N08/6654702825/in/photostream

[Kelly]

Here's a little bright Florida sunshine for you: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellynwarren/6615621615/in/set-72157628731374275

And this set is ALL about color, with a little chrome: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellynwarren/sets/72157627448394692/

[Laura]

I love the shapes and colors! Here is my bit of color to share!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68437462@N04/6702158307/in/photostream

[Sue McB]

Some colour from mid summer Down Under. You may not believe it, but I actually envy you Northerners all that snow.....and the wonderful photographs that one can take.

www.smcbphoto.com

[Edith]

I stored up a number of pictures of sunflowers to enjoy in winter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/sets/72157627493723887/

[Lindsay]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamasloves4/6712143477/in/set-72157628905560931/

Some colors of the winter - fire light and christmas lights.

[WorthIt!]

My favorite winter color is sunset...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/6716642641/in/photostream

[Valerie]

Here's some color for you!
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/09/colordrenched.html

And if you need a quick project for kiddos (and curious adults) that creates color swirls on a gray winter day, try this...
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/11/milky-rainbow.html

[kylie]

a little bit of night-time bokeh at the lights festival, from down under here in NZ :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23153349@N02/6717502283/in/photostream/

[Dorit]

... the yellow rose and the pumpkins made my winter day colourful ...

http://whispersoftherainbow.blogspot.com/2012/01/rose-in-winter.html

[DebC]

Taken outside last week in Indiana...not our typical winter (yay!)
http://simplify-daily-life.blogspot.com/2012/01/20120116-decorative-cabbage.html

[Liz @ PeaceLoveGuac]

Couldn't possibly pick just one color...

http://ewmcguirephoto.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Portfolio/17554063_vmnLDb#!i=1337527821&k=JTTWHXn&lb=1&s=A

[Sara]

When you ask a question like what's my favorite color, after watching my favorite team bring home another win, this lurker couldn't help herself...

http://losingthehardway.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/whats-your-favorite-color-baby/

[emma]

Here's a little bit of summer to cheer you folks up in the Northern hemisphere:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/6707290753/in/photostream

[Sage and Simple]

I live in Scandinavia where it's dark 18 hours a day in the dead of winter. To help with the darkness, most people go with white walls, but I need color in my world, so I prefer hot pink :)

http://www.sageandsimple.com/2011/10/living-room-makeover.html

[Dana]

It's cold here too (Seattle) and seriously, any break in the weather that includes temperatures over 35 degrees and I will take the opportunity to run outside with my camera, encouraging my kids to participate...they do. :)

a few weeks ago (40 degrees and sunny): the sun helped.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya/6625710227/in/photostream

Summer senior session at the graffiti wall makes me happy on dreary days, so I like to look back:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya/6592536347/in/photostream

And I miss summer, carnivals, cotton candy and beautiful warm light:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya/6221069630/in/photostream

But I'm embracing the snow and cold as well. Or trying. 2 months of coldish weather left...

[michelle]

a little color to brighten a cold, WINDY January day!