I knew there would be more than a chance of snow when I reserved a booth for January, but I was committing to a real chance on my art. The alarm went off at five, and, working with 3 hours of sleep, I jumped up, packed the car and headed to a mall an hour away.

My note cards have been selling well enough that I decided to take a chance on a bigger venue. I spent December getting the website re-organized and thinking about what I want my art to stand for. Saturday morning was the time.

I didn’t know if the New York crowd would be as friendly as the Vermont ones, but everybody was busy getting in their stands ready even though we all knew the crowds would be small because of the snow and Christmas shopping being just behind us.

We were all pretty well set up in time for the mall to open, and our host gave a nice greeting. The first hour ticked by slowly, and soon everyone was doing what crafters always do with these things.

We started visiting like neighbors do and should.  We talked to each other about our crafts and art, and our area by the food court became as cozy as a great room with a red hot wood stove. The morning of new and renewed connections in a divided country and planet lifted everyone’s spirits, and I realized the grey, snowy day  had made the budding camaraderie even more appreciated.

I’ve always loved winter. The snow can be a pain to drive in, but whenever the snow pack gets thick and heavy, I know that just under the ground thirsty seeds are about to get what they need. And I know that some of the most important part of growing happens in the dark of winter.