comfortable

I live for cooler temperatures. Of course I love the changing of the leaves and the return of my favorite pumpkin spice latte, but I also love fall fashion. There's something about long sleeves that brightens my outlook on life. It only seems appropriate that the holidays occur during cooler months (at least in the United States). It certainly doesn't seem right to eat Thanksgiving dinner in short sleeves; but, throw on a scarf such as tmosnaps' shot below or some fingerless gloves...ah yes, much better. Those simple accessories make everything feel so festive.

Beyond that, warmth is much more than being comfortable. Cooler weather is just a good excuse to snuggle up to the ones we love...hold hands...sit by a blazing fire. Our photographs should reflect that - that warm feeling that so many of us get this time of year.

With that said, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Until next time,
Ashley of  Ramblings and Photos

first day of wearing my scarf by tmosnaps

yearning for warm

The rain is currently pounding the roof just above my head, and a steady drip drip drip from the chimney to the metal flashing below could easily become a form of monotonous torture if I didn't have a glass of wine close at hand.  The chilly wet of winter in Northern California, just barely beginning, makes me yearn for a warm patch of sun on the hardwood where I could curl up like a cat.  When the skies briefly clear, I hustle my family out of our shady valley to soak in the last warm rays at the coast before the sun dips behind the horizon early.  Too early.

It's cozy inside with the fire but the nape of my neck pines for warm sun.

Ike06~ grabbed this slice of delicious late afternoon sun in North Dakota - it reminds me of an African savanna.  I wonder if she uses this photo as a background on her phone or computer during long, frosty winters to remind her what it feels like to be warm?

cheers,
kim (mosey) of mosey along

late afternoon by Ike06~

seasons of warmth

"I am rich today with autumn's gold,

all that my covetous hands can hold."

~Gladys Harp

When I first sat down to write about warmth, my thoughts immediately went to balmy spring mornings and long, lazy summer days. For a brief moment, I mourned the passing of these seasons as my mind moved toward the inevitable cold winter season that is knocking on my door.

But then I stopped, and looked around me. Although the days are growing shorter and darkness sets in a bit earlier each night, the colors that surround me are rich and golden. Everywhere I look...glorious red, yellow, orange, green and brown tones dance in the air and warm me through and through.

I know that summer is fleeting and winter is fast approaching but today, autumn, we take a moment to celebrate you.  I love Sara bug's photo below--she's got the right idea in giving you a big hug.

~christy {urban muser}

treehuggin' by sara bug

warmth.

Lately when I think of warmth, I think of all of you. I think of the great community found on blogs like this, on websites like flickr, of the friendships that form via the cold, hard wiring of the interwebs that become warm, safe places for good people. The encouragement and support that is very real despite never actually having met any of these people in person is amazing! All of it feels just as good as that snuggly hug, that fresh cup of coffee, that perfect sunshine on a chilly day, right? Warmth for me is not just literal heat, but a feeling you can get from kindness, from safety, from a happy memory, from a connection made. All of those things are warmth that is stirred up and generated from the people and community here and on flickr and other weblogs. And this virtual warmth sometimes transcends explanation and defies definition, but I think it comes in part from sharing. We share our hearts, we put ourselves out there and open to criticism of our art, and we get more than we could ever give in return. I think this little one of ~*suzannagipson*~'s below is a great example of that sharing, as well as perfect for the "warmth" prompt as she crouches down for warmth on a crisp fall afternoon. I bet you could all think of an example when the warmth I'm talking about has graced you with its presence! I hope so!

Warmly,
Cara of cararosephotos

11/6 by ~*suzannegipson*~

finding winter warmth

I can enjoy feeling cold, in very short bursts, but cold is only good when you know you can get warm again. A lot of the pleasure of being out on a sharply cold, frosty day is in knowing you’ll soon be warming up – the anticipation of the steaming shower, the hot bowl of soup, the blazing fire, the warm dry clothes. When I think of being cold and getting warm again, a small poem by T E Hulme goes around in my mind; it’s about a gentleman who’s fallen on hard times and is sleeping rough on the embankment of the Thames River in London, on a cold frosty night:

"Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,
In the flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.
Now see I
That warmth’s the very stuff of poesy.
Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie."

When you’re chilled and cold, warmth really is the ‘very stuff of poesy’ and all of us gravitate towards it, even birds and animals. When I first saw Stephskimo’s photo as a thumbnail, I didn’t notice the pigeon staying warm by sitting on top of the light; when I saw it bigger and then did, it made me smile - that's one smart pigeon.  And last winter, my cat spent a little while looking out the window at the snow, and then decided that sitting in front of the heater was a much better idea.

gilly of the camera points both ways

finding winter warmth by stephskimo

white and blue

Warmth. At first I thought of candles and steaming cups of tea. Perfect for this time of year, when all I want to do is snuggle up under a quilt to warm my cold feet. Then I closed my eyes and thought, What says warmth to me? A vision of white and blue, at the sea. That was the image my heart whispered to me. So I went to my archive, with my chilly toes and cup of tea, and found this vision of the Aegean Sea.

And as I looked through the Flickr pool, Skiingrn1's sunny image jumped out at me. Maybe it was the color, so similar to mine. Maybe the season, all summer sunshine. Both a vision of another season, so quickly behind us, providing echoes of warmth for the months ahead.

Close your eyes, can't you feel the sun?

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Juneau, Alaska by Skiingrn1

on the subject of warmth

Warmth is finding the book I wanted to read {on our first snowy day} waiting for me at the library. The glow of the yellow spine, warming the winter white vase, on my desk. Open me now and settle in, the book whispered. The tea kettle getting ready to whistle away, a handmade quilt on a chair. I have craved warmth this past week, especially with the darker days finding us, before I am able to get supper made. 

The glow from taralees photo, gave me the cozies. The light bouncing of the table- caught by the rim of the cups and place mats. I found her photograph to be quite soul warming, and lovely. 

Warmly, 

christina {soul aperture}

by candlelight by taralees

and the next theme is...WARMTH

As November approaches and the temperatures in most parts of the world begin to dip we find ourselves seeking warmth in different ways. Some of us find it and wrap our hands around it.

Keeping Warm by Trevellion

While of some of us create it with a simple wick and a flame.

Winter Warmth by Holly (Souptraveler)

Others head south following the fireball in the sky.

A Round Sun by Marina Sorr

During the next two weeks we are trying to translate that feeling of warmth through our viewfinders. You may find it in a roaring fire, a cup of coffee or wrapped tightly in a blanket. So grab your hot cocoa and fuzzy slippers, join us by sharing your warmth photos in the Mortal Muses Theme Group on Flickr. We look forward to seeing how much heat you can generate. :D

cold mornings hot tea by Lindsey (modchik)

Lindsey | the modchik