Written by Wearing mittens, for me, is like turning your hands into a cartoon characters, but even they are usually allowed the use of three or four fingers. You can’t do anything while wearing them, save cradle a mug of hot cocoa, so that’s what we have for today’s prompt. As a kid, I wore mittens when I was young, but insisted on gloves when I got older so I could grip things properly. Even still, adding another hand to a perfectly good hand is not always an optimal experience. If the gloves are too thick, the fingers don’t bend properly and it’s nearly worse than wearing mittens. In both cases, moving your hands even slightly into the air gives the illusion that you’re waving so it’s at least friendly apparel. I’m notorious for leaving the house without gloves no matter how cold the weather is outside. For the short bits of time I’m outdoors it doesn’t seem practical and I would only lose them when I went to take them off. We have several gloves sitting forlornly in the closet hoping that one day they’ll be returned to to their mate.
The reward of having to wear hand clothes as a child came in the hot cocoa at the end of playtime. This was the part of the experience I remember fondly so even mittens hold a special place in my heart. I love that even things we don’t enjoy can be made special by the things we do. Today, Philippe and I took our annual trip to a series of shops in the distant suburbs to get things for our New Year’s celebration. That makes it sound like we’re having a party, and we’re not. It’s more of our personal tradition of indulging in champagne, little pastries, and blinis with roe. We go to a lovely gourmet food shop, browse around looking at all the lovely things, then decide it’s too expensive and go buy our stuff at Whole Foods instead. The gourmet shop is fun, though, mostly to listen to Philippe pointing at each of the French cheeses on display saying, “C’est pas vrai! It’s just French supermarket cheese! Nobody would go to a shop for cheese like that!” And then watch the expression of the guy behind the counter. We have to leave soon after.
We’re nearing the end of the month and the end of the year, and though I’m still a bit sad to see the Christmas season end, I’m equally thrilled at the prospect of a shiny new year ahead. We’ll be starting a brand new watercolor challenge soon, and I hope you’ll be joining me! I wish each of you the very best life has to offer in the coming year. And for those of you who make resolutions, I hope you’ll achieve those as well. I’m not making any this year as I only disappoint myself when I do. Instead of goals, I’m just going to carry on and keep doing whatever crazy thing comes to mind. Sometimes, goals are like reading the ending of a book first, without even knowing if you’ll bother to finish it. I’d rather just choose an idea for a story and see where it takes me next. I’m not entirely sure what that works out to, but I’m excited to be surprised in 2018. It’s a new year to play and enjoy life, like I did when I was a child, when all it took to be truly happy were some mittens & cocoa.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Terra Cotta, Quinacridone Red, Cobalt Turquoise and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
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Happy New Year Charlie! Hope 2018 is full of the very best surprises.
Thanks so much, Mary!! To you as well!! 😃💕
Happy New Year! Enjoy your celebration and the coming year.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Hope you have a very Happy New Year as well!
Identifiable story on the mittens,,,I like it…love your painting..
Thanks so much, Pamela! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this!
Lovely painting! Just keep doing “crazy” things and wonderful things will happen in 2018.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 I shall! I really don’t know how to live any other way! hehe
I remember cold hands, wet mittens and hot cocoa after tobogganing! I tall looks good, and I love the shine on the spoon.
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕 Yeah, hot cocoa was always the best remedy for cold hands!
It’s kind of sad that we lose that ability to be happy with just cocoa and mittens. I do enjoy your musings and your paintings just keep getting better and better!
Aww thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 I’m so happy you’re seeing improvement. I just keep chucking them out and hoping they get a bit better! hehe
I get what you’re saying, but I have to admit to a love of mittens. Your hands stay warmer because there is less surface area, and mittens are kind of friendly seeming to me.
Yeah, a lot of people love mittens, but I just haven’t been able to cross over to the club! 😊 hehe
see, you need to get someone to crochet you a string and sew your mittens to them. Then thread them through your sleeves and TADA, you never lose them! I always loved mittens on strings. My mom was crafty like that and I also had a fancy-dance hat-scarf. It was a scarf that was knitted to also be attached to your hat so you never lost it. In Canada we call them toques (pronounced two-k.;o) Ahh the things you learn when you know a Canadian. hehehehe.Keep warm Charlie.
Thanks so much, Jennifer! 😃💕 My mother and sister both crochet… hehe… I would have to have them actually crochet the mittens first though as I don’t own any. lol
Well that’d be even better, new mittens AND you’ll never lose them! Twofer!
Your charming painting reminds me how useless mittens are at keeping your hands warm. Knitted gloves are no better. In fact, nothing works except keeping them dry and buried in blankets. Or staying indoors, where the hot chocolate is!
Happy New Year to you and Philippe.
Thanks so much, Sharon!! 😃💕 hehe… I agree… not subjecting hands to extreme temperatures is probably the best solution of all! A very Happy New Year to you and yours!!
“We go to a lovely gourmet food shop, browse around looking at all the lovely things, then decide it’s too expensive and go buy our stuff at Whole Foods instead.”
I love it! You set the tone with such joy and such ease.
““C’est pas vrai! It’s just French supermarket cheese! Nobody would go to a shop for cheese like that!” And then watch the expression of the guy behind the counter. We have to leave soon after.” It’s a kick to picture the snooty little shopkeeper’s face. : )
As for your painting:
Just looking at the mittens and cocoa fills me with a sense of contentment.
Amazing, the power of a painting.
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😃💕 I’m so happy you enjoyed this! hehe… yeah, it’s funny that people think anything imported is somehow gourmet. It makes me wonder if there are people in a remote place somewhere currently fawning over Kraft American cheese saying, “Ohhhh, it’s imported from America! So fancy!” Probably not.
Some deep comments there, Charlie. Very thoughtful and a unique perspective. The mittens and cocoa make a very cozy vignette. 🙂
Thanks so much, Miste! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one!
Always enjoy your art and your stories, Charlie.
Tell Phillipe I recommend Delice de Burgoyne very similar to Epoisses and also best served with a spoon! It seems as though the resolution you need is to continue being you, and I too will try.
Thanks, Rod! 😃💕 Philippe would approve! Actually, we ended up with Délice de Bourgogne which our local butcher actually has on hand. Far better selection than the snooty place and a better price! hehe And yes to just being our wonderful selves! That’s always the best resolution!
Happy New Year, Charlie! I love reflections of the spoon on a coffee cup.
Thanks so much, Violeta! Happy New Year to you my friend! 😃💕