Sheila’s Brush – A Newfoundland Weather Tutorial

“Sheila’s Brush” (12″ x 12″) – SOLD

I live in St. John’s, a city where the last snowfall often happens in May, although it’s been known to come in June too.

This year has been unusually mild, and we didn’t receive nearly as much of the white stuff as during last year’s Snowmageddon, when the army had to come dig us out.

But we did have a surprise snowstorm soon after St. Patrick’s day in March, a weather event folks around here call Sheila’s Brush.

You can see why an island like Newfoundland, which is known for its rich & charming dialect, would have a ton of weather-related expressions. It even has its own dictionary!

As a Come From Away (CFA), having moved here in 2011, I’m still delighted, surprised, and sometimes confused by what I hear.

Just the other day, a friend commented on the foggy harbour photos I posted on Facebook with “Lovely. Tell your mother”.

Confused, I responded: “I’m not sure what you mean?”. This friend knew my mother had transitioned a little over a year ago. And anyway, why would I tell my mother about fog in the harbour?

Another friend responded: “Newfies say that about everything, lol. Some of us were brought up or raised up to tell your mudder everything.”

I smiled, having learned one more local turn of phrase.

(By the way, “Newfie”, an old term of endearment, is now usually perceived as offensive if spoken by outsiders).

I’ve had friends move away from the island because of the weather. With its fog, snow, wind and rain records, it’s not a place for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

But it’s one of the reasons I love it here. I can’t tolerate extreme heat. I think the weather rocks! It’s not too hot or too cold. It has an average summer temperature of 16°C (61°F), while the winter hovers around 0°C (32°F).

Since I don’t do well in extreme heat, that’s a perfect summer in my books! And there’s usually enough snow to snowshoe in the winter, so that’s great too.

It saddened me to read / hear complaints about Sheila’s Brush a month ago.

Why? Because it seems such a waste of energy to gripe about something that’s out of our control, like the weather. Doesn’t it feel so much better to embrace it?

A shift of perception can transform your whole experience. Weather is a great place to start practicing that.

I used to be a worry-wart, a control freak. I can easily get anxious, which is why I practice all I do and share it here with you. I can only teach what I myself have learned.

And I’ve learned that worry only happens when I shift out of alignment with Source – when I lose my faith, my trust. It comes from our human selves, not our Spirit selves.

Worry comes from a desire to be in control. We either want to control our environment or the outcome of situations. That anxiety then leads to micromanaging, blaming, and complaining. Basically, it’s a choice for unhappiness.

Face it, there’s lots more out there we can worry about. But worry drains us of the energy to be and do well in this world.

I love Mark Twain’s quote:

‘I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.’

The key is knowing what is in your control and what isn’t. Then comes the choice to shift your perception, attitude and behaviour to make the best of a situation.

The weather has taught me that.

I can complain all I want about snow in late March or delight in a sprinkling of white as late as June – the photographic opportunities would be amazing!

The real question is:  “Is this a problem I can solve? Or do I need to change how I feel about the perceived problem?”

Sheila’s Brush 2021:

When Sheila’s Brush hit, I was in the midst of a creative flow in the studio. I delighted in taking breaks in the backyard, photographing the crocus flowers piercing through the snow – which in turn led to the painting “Awakening“.

When the crocus disappeared under a blanket of white, I was glad to get an extra snowshoe in – likely the last of the season.

As I write this, we’re starting week 2 of heavy wind and rainfall warnings. I took a few very wet walks in great rain gear, but am choosing to do more dancing at home instead.

Weather is definitely a great teacher of radical acceptance and letting go of control. It simply is.

What else might you be worrying or complaining about that’s out of your control? What’s in your control to be or do that can help you regain your balance?

May this painting created during this year’s Sheila’s Brush be a reminder of the freedom that comes from letting go of a need for control, complaining, and worrying.

May it be a visual anchor for your power to choose happiness through radical acceptance and inspired action.

When you look at it from different angles, you’ll see subtle iridescent colours appear behind the branches. You have to look to spot them though.

Title: Sheila’s Brush

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