Kids Art: Snow-inspired Salt-sprinkled Paintings

We had snowfall!

Well, ordinarily, this wouldn't be such a big deal if we lived in an area that routinely gets snow dumped on it around the right season.

Ana made a huge snowball in the backyard. Oggie stomped around the backyard with feelings alternating rapidly between like and hate - while he likes the snowfall and the rarity of it, he hates the biting cold which makes him enjoy it less. We went for a long walk with some friends before the snow melted away.

And, inspired by the clumps of snowflakes falling down rapidly in such a flurry making the outdoors seem rather blurry, we did some Salt-Sprinkled painting.

Snow Bowl with Banana and Apple in Snowfall
-or-
Still Life in Snowfall by Ana

Sunset by Og

Of course, the names are thought-up after the painting is complete. It is not like the kids set out to do exactly what the titles suggest. And, the naming exercise is more for fun rather than qualifying their creation in some way. We toss around many titles and finally settle on something.

Snow Play and a Survival Lesson

Merry Christmas!

Finally the snow has melted away and we are warming up a bit here. Ana's school is still closed for Winter break and am finding it hard to keep her active physically. Parks and outdoor play is not my thing in winters, I just want to be cozy warm indoors...

But, the 10 days of snow seemed to have given a dad and his daughter a great chance to bond with each other in the backyard and discover their mutual love of outdoors, regardless of the blistering cold.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity, D showed Ana how to make an igloo and stay warm. An important survival lesson.

And, the customary snowman got built as well. Me, I could barely step out to take the pictures, so, most were shot through the window from the safety of the warm indoors. I do enjoy the crisp fresh snow and love to take a walk when properly bundled up in winter gear, but, I was too lazy to put on the boots and coat and such to step out to take a few pictures...

Ana helped make cookies for Santa, and for herself, of course. We made a huge batch of Christmas sugar cookies, all of which Ana decorated with care and patience, as seen in the picture!

Then, she dictated a note for Santa which D wrote down and left it along with milk and cookies, and of course, carrots for the reindeer :)

While it was a huge bother, all in all, I have to thank the 'act of God' weather conditions which constrained all of us to our home, thus giving us a chance to spend a lot of time, and a lot of quality time at that, enriching our lives... else, D would have worked all days, worked late at that as clients need their stuff delivered regardless, with the possible exception of Xmas day, and I would probably have taken a few days off before and after Xmas but worried about catching up when I get back to work, and Ana and Oggie would be sort of secondary in terms of getting our full attention...

C'est la vie, we take the good with the bad...