Winter is Setting In

    It's officially too cold to venture out here in Vermont. This move has marked a significant shift for us—from the bustling metropolitan area of Chattanooga, TN to one of the least populated states, Vermont. Moreover, we've settled in one of the most sparsely populated areas within Vermont itself. We now find ourselves immersed in the world of farm and feed stores, where Carhartt is the prevailing fashion choice, businesses close shop by five, and internet access is scarce. There's a peculiar dichotomy of residing in one of the most liberal states of the Northeast Kingdom, while being surrounded by conservative ideals in the rural countryside.

    The city we now call home has long surpassed its peak in population and economic prosperity. The passage of years has been unkind, witnessing an exodus of both businesses and young residents to larger cities. Those that endure struggle to secure enough work or workers to remain afloat. Restarting my career here has proven challenging, and the thought of relocating to larger cities to sustain ourselves looms on the horizon.

    Yet, amid the hardships, Vermont's beauty persists.

    We're surrounded by sweeping landscapes, serene lakes, soaring mountains, roaring streams, waterfalls, and more natural beauty than any state I've had the pleasure of visiting. Unfortunately, winter has already set in here. 

So, now that I'm inside, warm and toasty from the wood stove, I've turned my attention back to my blog. Tonight I took a stab at animating a simple frog in Aseprite. Here's how that turned out:

 

 I started out trying to design him with a quirky larger eye. You'll see that I cleaned that up pretty quickly as I started to add some animation frames in: 

 

 And the final product:

    I hope you're all doing well. 

    Stay warm and toasty.