Surviving Winter: 11 Ways I Bring More Joy and Warmth into Cold Days

Wednesday morning I woke up and checked the temperature. Negative 19 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of negative thirty-two. It was our second day in a row of bitter cold.

How to Discover Joy in Subtle Colors: Lessons from the Winter Garden

The sun is shining, warm and bright. The garden is humming with bees and I catch the scent of roses, mint and spicy tulsi. I step among the blooms with my scissors at the ready,

10 Ways to Invite More Ease into Your Days and Why it Matters

When I think about the word EASE, I imagine serenity and calm. I picture being able to do hard things with confidence. I see myself flowing through my days with lightness, finesse, grace.

inspiration, joy, lifeAnne ButeraJanuary 14, 2022inviting more ease into your days, why it matters to invite ease into our days, what does it mean to live with ease?, how can we invite ease into our lives, 10 ways to invite more easy into your days, 10 Ways to Invite More Ease into Your Life, changing our perspectives, choosing a mindset, what does it mean to choose a word for the year?, setting intentions, letting go of anxiety, release yourself from busyness, free yourself from anxiety, how to free yourself from anxiety Comments

Saying Goodbye to 2021 and Welcoming 2022 with EASE

Wednesday morning dawned with a blowy, snowy storm. Most mornings after breakfast and coffee I start my day with a walk.

Finding Solace in the Garden's Beauty: Why I Grow Blooming Plants Indoors

One of the first things I noticed in the oncology waiting room were two huge Christmas cactuses filled with blooms, even though it was late January.

Gratitude and a Giveaway Inspired by an Exciting Collaboration and Fun Stickers

Sometimes a project comes along which is a complete joy. My collaboration with Kickapoo Meadery was one of those projects. This fall I worked with Roots and Refuge Farm on another.

art, garden, paintings, gratitudeAnne ButeraDecember 10, 2021giveaway, 2022 Botanical Watercolor Calendar, Anne Butera, art by Anne Butera, collaboration, commissioned paintings, the story behind a commission, Roots and Refuge Farm, Jessica Sowards, Jeremiah Sowards, stickers, stickers from Roots and Refuge Farm, 2 Million Blossoms magazine Comments

Savoring the Quiet Gifts of December and the Winter Season

I cut handfuls of dead flowers from my garden this week. Their shapes are interesting. Petals twisted. Leaves furled as if frozen in motion.

Granting Yourself Permission to be Quiet in a Noisy World

“Thanksgiving is not just a day, it’s a lifestyle.”

November 2021 in the Garden and an Invitation to a Joyful Seed Exchange

In Wisconsin by the time November rolls around, we’ve usually had our first frost. Sometimes we’ve already had our first snow, too.

Quitting Instagram (for Good) and Why I Adore Blogs and Blogging

In April I wrote about stepping away from Instagram. It felt right for me. Energizing. Freeing.

In June I wandered back.

blogging, business, inspirationAnne ButeraNovember 12, 2021quitting Instagram, social media, artists quitting social media, why I'm quitting Instagram, why I stepped away from Instagram, why I deleted my Instagram account, why I dislike Facebook, alternatives to social media, why i love blogging, why I love reading blogs, blogging, blogging vs. instagram, blogging is not dead, is blogging dead, my favorite blogs, some of my favorite blogs, inspiring blogs, creative dreams, what i love about blogs, creating community, creating community on social media, blogging as an alternative to social media, making connections through blogging, creating a community through blogs, blogging community, being authentic, being intentional, popular posts Comments

2022 Watercolor Calendars: Looking Back at 9 Years of Calendars and Dreaming Big Dreams

Last month I wrote about how creating a tea towel calendar has become a yearly tradition for me*, but it’s not the only tradition for my art.

This is the 9th year I’ve created a desk calendar with my seasonal watercolor paintings.

Open: Setting Intentions and Returning to My Word of the Year

It’s almost November, two more months left in 2021. At this time last year, many of us were ready for 2020 to be over. Ready to have a fresh start with a new year.