As I natter on about the cold, I’m aware that today is to be the warmest day of the week and it will still be below freezing. I’m also aware that keeping the blinds drawn makes it a tad warmer inside, but we have so few hours of daylight and I need sun.
I’d give anything for a 32° day.
One positive in the midst of endless cold: I’ve been drawn to the winter sunshine and the way it changes the look of the cottage throughout the day. Don pointed out the way the light was illuminating the Vernors soda crate the other day.
The crate and the blue of the table, along with a bit of a spotlight on the jade plant – lovely.
Light and shadow.
Since Don is a member of SAG, the Screen Actors Guild, we get to screen the movies that are up for Best Picture at the SAG Awards. They’re called ‘screeners.’ They trickle in through the mail in early January. Last night, we watched Get Out, a brilliant piece of work by Jordan Peele, who wrote and directed it. You might be familiar with him through his series with Keegan Michael Key called Key and Peele. It’s one of our favorites.
The film is incredible and we can’t stop talking about it this morning. I don’t know how to describe it except to say it’s a combination of horror/dark comedy/social commentary about race in America. The direction is impeccable, the cast is top notch, and the actor playing the protagonist, Daniel Kaluuya, is brilliant. I want to watch it again. It’s that good. I recommend it highly. It makes you think. And think again.
I’m not sure what our pick for tonight will be, but I do know it’s the perfect way to spend a winter evening – watching a movie with my sweetie.
Christmas is still up. I’m thinking I’ll take it down at the end of the week. But then again…
Happy Wednesday.
I love the light in your cottage! It always looks so cheery. My home is a 1951 rambler with deep overhang so it tends to be darker than I like. We added a sunroom to the back of the house last winter and it is very light; I live in that room. The sunlight makes all the difference in my mood during the winter months.
A sunroom sounds perfect! I am the same, Carolyn Marie – have to have sunlight!
Hah! We watched Get Out a few months ago & loved it. It stays on your brain for days. Just reading your post has it stuck in my head again.
Today is going to be 24°! OMG
Monica
It’s a truly amazing movie, isn’t it?
Movie watching is perfect for these cold days and nights. I put away part of Christmas yesterday…the wreaths, the Santa’s and the sleighs full of ornaments…but the tree is still up. And the outdoor lights of course…too cold to venture out to take them down. Going to be a balmy 30 on Sunday…shorts weather perhaps for some?? ;)
It’s all relative, isn’t it? Heading up to 26 here today. Yikes.
Your cottage has lovely light in the winter. I’m enjoying the look of it. We finished the third and last version of Jane Eyre that the library had on DVD. It’s rare that all three of us watch a movie together these days, so I’m glad we found three we could watch together.
Love Jane Eyre – which version did you watch?
1997 A&E version with Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds, 1983 BBC adaptation with Zelah Clark and Timothy Dalton, and 1996 movie with William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Even though the 1983 version seemed unsophisticated compared to the 1996 movie, we like it the best, as it told the entire story. The 1997 version left a lot of things out and didn’t show many scenes of Jane interacting with her former family and newly discovered family. I haven’t even read the book yet! Should do so this year…
Not a big fan of William Hurt, so I haven’t seen that one. I have seen the other two versions, however. There’s also one that was done for television with George C. Scott and Susannah York, which I saw several times. Beautifully done, with a great soundtrack, which I used to own.
This is why I like sitting in my living room…it is where the most sun shines in…I’m trying to figure out the best places where I can hang some plants in here out of reach from my cats…lol…I love that you added houseplants to your cottage…it makes it seem even more cozy and old fashioned!…How nice that you get those movies for free…Is that movie out for sale or rent yet?…it sounds like one we would enjoy…This weather makes 32 degrees sound warm doesn’t it…how crazy is that?…Stay warm Claudia and Don!
I don’t know if it’s out yet. I suppose you could Google it and see. Today it will reach 27 or 28, which is warmer than it’s been. Yikes!
I need that sunlight! Dark days make me sad. What fun to get screeners to watch. Enjoy and snuggle up and stay warm.
We will. This cold is getting to us! Enough, already!
We might reach 12* today!! But, again, the sun IS shining. Somehow it does make it a bit more bearable. Are you in the path of the storm heading for the East coast? I haven’t watched much news, but I did hear about a storm going that way and even FL could be impacted?? I should turn the Weather Channel on. I can DO weather “news”.
Stay warm. Enjoy the movies! Have a good Wednesday!!
Not in the really bad part of the storm, but we are going to be hit with winds tomorrow (hate it) and 1-3 inches of snow. Mere says it’s very cold in Florida right now.
Chiming in here—it’s pretty cold here in Central FL. Supposed to drop below freezing! Just brought in the tomato plants and popped an upsidedown cake into the oven. Purely for warmth. Not!
Yes, Mere told me it was cold there and Little Z chimed in with “It’s chilly!”
That is lovely light, indeed! The hand-painted chair is what is making my heart flutter more, though. Goodness, that’s sweet.
Happy new year to you and Don!
It is – it’s really chippy and some would think of it as damaged, but we love it.
What a nice time, for you and Don to be inside, cozy and watching movies.
I wouldn’t want to be shut up with the drapes closed although I did hear a piece on the national news last night saying to do just that.
You wouldn’t want to be in SoCalif because nothing seems to ever stop the dry winds out of the east, and the state is apparently ‘burning up’ due to very-real climate change (and I assume at some such future point will be ‘un-liveable’ with severe drought and increasingly-high temps), but we’re 80 degrees here today (I’m not loving it). How about I give you 30 degrees of mine, and you give me 30 degrees of yours…
Wow, just reading more about this blizzard; so dangerous. It’s good you two don’t really have to be going anywhere. Hope you continue to have power and that you’ve got some supplies in because they’re saying STAY HOME, STAY INSIDE. Very strange to see frozen fountains in Savannah, Georgia, no?! I wouldn’t want to be a truck driver or letter carrier…what about people who have to get to work as caregivers because home-bound people depend on them; doctors and nurses needing to get to their hospital shifts; or people who have to get to animal shelters (or zoos) so the ‘critters’ can get fed? Gosh, have to feel for those types of workers!
We’re not really in the danger area – that’s along the coast and we’re pretty far in from the coast. It will snow a bit and it will be windy, which I don’t like, but those who will be impacted are those who live closer to the coast.
You should know that it is also extremely dry out here. With cold weather, no precipitation lately and the heat on, people are suffering from nasal problems and dry and cracked skin. It’s so dry that I feel dehydrated much of the time.
Surprised to hear that your cottage feels warmer when the blinds are drawn. Must be only on cloudy days, because I’m often surprised at how much warmer my place can be on those [rare] sunny winter days. Maybe the cottage is located in some kind of quirky “wind tunnel” area of your town, geographically-speaking? That would make ME keep my blinds closed too – at least on cloudy days. Block some of that cold air trying to get inside. Where I live now – an apartment building built in 1892 as a seminary & renovated 25 years ago – the curtains in one CLOSED window actually “blow” on very windy days. They don’t “rustle” just a bit, like they would in a gentle Summer breeze. They actually blow! I hear the wind almost all the time here [unless of course it’s a calm day]. I think it has to do with the architecture & being on the top floor – the 5th – etc. Wow, how nice to get movies to screen – especially in the Winter? Does Don get to vote on the SAG awards? The Oscars even? How exciting! Hope you’re enjoying the news coverage today – it sounds as though the walls are beginning to seriously wobble for 45 and company! And it can’t happen soon enough for me. Peace.
#Resist
#Protect Mueller
When the temps are sub-zero, sun doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. To my mood, yes, to the warmth in the house, no. The blinds act as insulation. No, it has nothing to do with where we live, this is pretty standard advice for very cold weather.
Yes, Don gets to vote on the SAG awards. Not the Oscars. The Oscars are decided by a select group, members of the union can’t vote just because they’re in the union.
” When the temps are sub-zero, sun doesn’t make a whole lot of difference.”
how right you are! and yet looking at it … it does truly seem warmer!
I’m one of those people who thrives on those days I can have fresh air and sunlight.
I love your kitchen. and the shade on the small lamp sitting there on the counter.
the sunlight and shadows in it and the cheeriness of it all. it’s just so pretty.
I laughed at little Z chiming in “it’s chilly!” the little master of understatement. LOL!!!
and thanks for the great recommendation of the film. I’ll watch for it.
And the blinds help to keep cold air out and warm air in.
I need some Little Z today!
glad you both can stay home and watch movies and that pretty winter light.
i don’t do it often enough, but over the weekend watched a movie – “the wizard of lies” about bernie madoff. enjoyed it … except for it being true. and i kept thinking “wow … robert deniro looks soooo much like my brother!” (though my brother has a lot more hair).
stay warm!
kathy in iowa
Bernie Madoff was a piece of work, wasn’t he?
Love all the light and shadows and the sun pouring in on these cold winter
days. I like many things about this season though the grey days make it
a challenge to stay motivated. I want
to curl up with the cats and snooze.
This is such a great time to sort through dresser and kitchen drawers.
Even tackle a bit of organizing in the
closet and then reward myself with
a good movie. Am tending to lean
toward uplifting and/or informative
during these dreary days. Like you,
I am in no hurry to pack away the
holiday decor. The bright happy colors
and twinkle lights are wonderful mood lifters so mine often stay up
until late January.
Always enjoy your posts and how you
share life with us. It looks as though
this is a good time for you and Don
with many good things ahead. Drink deep of this cozy time together.
Blessings.
We are! Thank you so much, Joan!
I loved Get Out! I look forward to your movie recommendations.
It’s really great, isn’t it?