Winter in the White Mountains: A January 2026 Studio Update

It feels like winter arrived very haltingly this year. Throughout December and the start of January 2026, we saw snow on and off, plus had one mega rain and freeze event. Finally, around the end of the January—after a few dramatic cycles of wind and storms—we received the big snow we were waiting for. Now, the Bethlehem landscape is finally, and appropriately, dressed in white.

With the snow comes the return of our homestead rhythm. The "woodstove workout" has officially kicked in to keep the cold from creeping into the house:

  • Morning & Night: Filling the small woodbox beside the stove.

  • Weekly: Shoveling ash and maintaining the stove.

  • Bi-Weekly: Hauling and stacking a fresh pile of wood on the porch.

  • Snow Management: Clearing the driveways with giant push shovels and digging out paths to the house.

Rather than planting or weeding in the garden, these winter tasks keep us moving. It is a grounding, physical cycle that defines life in the White Mountains during this season.

Fortunately, my art studio remains the warmest spot in the house. Sitting on the balcony level, open to the living room below, it catches all the rising heat.

On days when I am not at my Archivist job, I am up here working on two or three oil paintings simultaneously. The start of 2026 has also been administrative; I spent the first few weeks of the year applying to artist residencies for the upcoming summer and catching up on my bookkeeping. Fingers crossed, I’ll be spending July or August painting in an adorable cabin somewhere new!

With the landscape transformed, I am currently working on a new series of landscape paintings inspired by this late-arriving winter and the cycle of seasons ahead. I am thrilled to announce that I will be exhibiting new work at WREN (Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network) here in Bethlehem in September with my good painting friend Jessica Fligg. All through this past autumn and this year, we'll be painting outdoors together on our own, and creating work in the studio to hold a big giant show. We've been having a lot of fun adventures finding new and interesting places to paint.

For now, on with winter! I am looking forward to getting out on my cross-country skis, doing a little trail running on the stomped-out paths, and eventually curling up by the fire to do absolutely nothing.

Here’s to a creative and snowy 2026.