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Dreaming out of January...and into July

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring)

January has a grey palette in the great Pacific Northwest Coast. 

Pearl, charcoal, silver, pewter...but grey... in cloud, in sea, in bare tree branches poking out of shadowed forests.  

In our minds, though, we can see the summer-summer frame.  Always good to do a little daydreaming, to remember the pleasures of a beach, the sparkle of the sea in July.  It reminds us that nothing stays the same. 

After the grey comes that special summer blue.  In the middle of change, where all the usual and relied upon anchors have been uprooted, it's good to think about past happinesses, to replace the grey with the blue. 

It's our choice, always.  Isn't that what all the great philosophies teach?  Attitude is the thing.

Do  we choose the sparkle palette or the grey?   Hmmm.....  

There are lots of doorways to the blue: memory, a comedy film, music, special menues, old photos, a walk in the park, a really fat book.  Key, though, is that it has the allure of a vacation, even a mini-one, and that is what dislodges the grey. 

Personally, I'm into movie night and a fun one is My Favorite Year.   And your suggestion might be?   Share!

 

 

 

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How may I help you to discover special Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands?   Call me!

Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Our January has been pretty nice so far - lots of sunny which is unusual for this area at this time of year. As for movies, I am terrible remembering the name of them... My husband will say, "hey, did you see such-and-such?" and I'll say, No, I don't think so. Two minutes after it comes on I realize I did see it before. Oops.

Jan 17, 2021 06:23 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Li Read,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured your post on her "Ah-Ha" moments for the week as I missed it. My favorite time of the year is spring..everything is awakening! Just yesterday as I looked out at my covered pool and it was 70 during the day but 33 at night I was thinking in 2 more months I'll have the cover removed again.

Jan 17, 2021 07:10 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

We've been watching Netflix too - good escape from the blahs of January.  Honestly, we are hoping for some snow - that would put some real sparkle in the month.  I did notice small bulbs are poking their heads up through the dirt - always amazes me. The miraculous cycle of seasons. 

Jan 17, 2021 07:19 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

We had an absolutely perfect day yesterday here in North Texas. Fortunately, we live in an area where it can be snowing one day, and in the 70's the next.

Jan 17, 2021 07:24 AM
Ray Henson
Retired - Goodyear, AZ
Retired Real Estate Agent

We spent a little time on the coast near Daly City yesterday.  It was so foggy that we could not see the ocean.  Still, it was beautiful.  I can't wait to visit it again in the summer.

We have not seen too many movies lately, but we have enjoyed to British series' lately, Luther and Broadchurch. 

Jan 17, 2021 07:39 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Li Read

With generally 285 days + of sunshine, I do not see too many grey days.  As far as Movie Night goes... any Hallmark movie is something I enjoy.  Right now, I am catching up on "When Calls the Heart".

Jan 17, 2021 08:11 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

We have our share of gray in Connecticut but I look forward to the time I leave for the south soon and the opportunity of some sunny warmth

Jan 17, 2021 10:22 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, ePRO
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
Serving Coastal San Diego, Veteran's & Seniors

A wonderful reflection. I have logged many months worth of time in Oregon and Washington over my lifetime, with 1/2 my family living there, so I know what you mean. I love my 88 degree January 15th San Diego because we deal with so little silver grey and pewter.

Jan 17, 2021 11:22 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Li Read my favorite movies of all time are Godfather I, II and III.... one is the very best.

Jan 17, 2021 12:35 PM
Graziella Bruner
NCS Premier Real Estate - Detroit, MI
Associate Broker - Serving Wayne & Oakland County

Anytime by the water to me is beautiful.  Here in Michigan, it's grey and brown most of the time with our normals in the low 30's.  Thanking God that this Winter has been a blessing, not too cold and not that much snow. Congratulations on your post being featured.

Jan 18, 2021 10:09 AM
CANDACE (Candy) STEVENS, EA
Number Cruncher LLC - Overton, NV
Helping Taxpayers Resolve IRS problems

During the long winters in the mounts, I would focus on the beauty of summer to get through the winter.  oh and I took up skiing to keep busy.

Mmmm favorite movie?  Overboard!

Jan 18, 2021 07:14 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

It's pretty much gray here too. Every few days the sun comes out to cheer us for an hour or so. But at least it's not overly cold and we have very little snow. We got 10" Dec. 26, but rain and temps in the 30's took it away.

If I decided to watch a movie I think it would be Gone With theWind, because I've always enjoyed it. I also liked The Godfather.

Or - to shake off the gloom of recent weeks, something completely silly. Like Kat Palmiotti, I'm not good at remembering movie names, but there's an old one about a family with too many St. Bernards that made me laugh a lot.

Jan 18, 2021 09:25 PM
Clark Farley
Randall Realtors - Westerly, RI

Given that the next time I expect feel warm will be Tuesday or Wednesday...next June, your post is quite on the mark.

We can't change the weather or climate, (along with an annoyingly long list of other things in life), however the important things, we can.

Attitude.


...also, it helps that I consider December 21st to be the end of winter. By now, (mid January), the benefits of this approach become more accessible, the days are getting longer.

Nothing says summer like days full of sunlight.

great Post!

Jan 19, 2021 06:11 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

Yes the most boring time of year for scenery here in the Midwest as well.  Just yesterday I was trying to think of some greenery I could put in flowerboxes on my new listing that doesn't look holiday-ish!

Jan 19, 2021 09:47 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

The plus side of this time of year in the east coast mountains is the snow/ hopes of snow. 

Jan 19, 2021 12:00 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Li:

What a thoughtful and sensitive post this was! Overall I tend to enjoy summer the best, although here in SoCal our weather is pretty nice all year, with some exceptions.

Jeff

Jan 22, 2021 03:52 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Love how you wrote this post.  Obviously you have a talent putting thoughts in print!  Today it's starting to clear up here in Phoenix, but we've had rain and cloudy skies for 3 days now, a rare commodity!  Love the movie "The Proposal" for the acting, Betty White, but also the scenery!

Jan 26, 2021 08:43 AM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Li,

I can absolutely get lost in your writing. That's  how good you are! I do love movies, mainly old classics like Dr. Zhivago, Casa Blanca, or Gone With the Wind. But reading letters and thoughts people put down on paper or write for a blog are most enjoyable and greatly appreciated. Writing is an art. Li, you do that so well. Your writing paints a picture in my mind. Please, keep writing. 

Mar 26, 2021 04:49 AM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Li Read - Well, now that summer is nearly over and fall is coming soon, how is everything? Did you enjoy the warmer months with blue skies? Do share any news. I'd be interested in know how you're doing. 

Aug 11, 2021 03:24 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

You put it super busy and it's kind of how are you feeling since July myself. :)?All the best

Oct 06, 2021 09:49 PM