Crystalline thoughts...

Every piece of the universe,

even the tiniest little snow crystal,

matters somehow.

I have a place in the pattern,

and so do you...

T.A. Barron

(1952)

I choose to believe this, even when it's not entirely clear how, or obvious where that place is. It's as close as I come to faith.

Love is a promise...

..., love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.

John Lennon

(1940-1980)

It's been quite sad around here for the past few weeks and as far as my brother's concerned, we aren't quite through the crisis yet. He's slightly more stable now though and being well taken care of and although he's not much better, he's also no worse, so we see that as reason to be optimistic. Thank you for all the caring wishes and positive thoughts. Please know that although I haven't been around here much, I am reading and taking to heart every kind word, passing them on to my family, and am so thankful for them. For you. 

I'm struck this weekend by how even in sad times there are so many reasons to be thankful and sometimes even to celebrate. A year ago I stood beside two of my sweetest friends as they declared their love for each other and we celebrated that declaration with a beautiful, traditional wedding party. I can hardly believe a year has passed already but it has, and today I congratulate them on their first anniversary with wishes of love and a traditional gift to mark the occasion - of paper.  Well, of mostly paper. 

I've long wanted to try making one of these little tag collections and this gave me an opportunity to do so. The tags are tiny, not much more than an inch high and I'd intended to do twelve but, in the end, nine worked better. On them I compiled a small collage of things from the wedding day, including a few picture transfers, pieces of paper embellishment from the table decor, pressed flowers from the bouquets, shells from the beach, snippets of ribbon and fabric and other bits and bobs. The photograph is not the greatest (a combination of rushing and bad lighting - sorry) but this is how it turned out. 

It's been good for me to have something so positive to focus my attention on this weekend and it gave me pleasure to recall the joy of the occasion and to lose myself for a couple of hours in something creative, to escape the gnawing anxiety of the past few weeks even briefly. It's hardly an artistic masterpiece and I don't anticipate it'll become a family heirloom but I'm hoping it will serve as a reminder to them, for a little while at least, of the happiness of the day and the happiness they are wished in all the days to come...

They're away right now enjoying a romantic weekend break so I'll be giving it to them tomorrow when we meet for an after-work glass of bubbly. I do hope they like it.  I'll let you know.

And I hope that wherever you are and whatever you are up to, you are having a relaxing and love-filled weekend too.

♥ K

Colour week - it's a rainbow 'round here

The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, 

a portion of the rainbow I have clutched.

Henry David Thoreau

(1817-1862)

When I daydream about my perfect home it broadly includes a white, light-drenched space with a small lush garden and an ocean view. More often than not it's decorated with lots of natural materials in light neutrals, accented with rich but subtle colours. Strange then that I find myself living in a city-centre apartment, without even a tiny balcony let alone a garden, a view of a city skyline, not a lot of natural light, and decorated in quite dark neutrals and bright jewel colours. And I'm happy here. What both have in common I guess is that they are calm and peaceful spaces that reflect the things and the people I love. If I were living in my dream home I would have posted whites today. But what I see around me is a rainbow. And living in a rainbow is not such a bad place to be.

~ several years ago now I moved to the Eternal City to live for a few years and whilst there I met a kindred-spirit, someone who showed me the ropes, shared her days with me, and gave me some of my happiest and most enduring memories of the place. I had no idea at the time how profoundly this meeting would impact on my life. She and her husband returned to Canada, I went to France and then came to the UK but we remain friends, joined at the heart across the distance. Joined at the heart I like to believe, like the city where we met, eternally. Even at a distance she enriches my life, loves and supports me unconditionally and gifts me with her thoughtfulness and a warm deep wisdom, always when I need it most.  She has also given me some of the things I treasure most and love to have around my home, including this incredible glass colour wheel, made especially for me. When it catches the light, I think of her and the creativity that runs in her veins and the love that she embodies. And it makes me smile. Thank you E.

~ we've already visited my bookshelves once this week and I return to this one now because it's a rainbow of colour and content. My book collection is vast and eclectic. I love books. I enjoy electronic media but I hope we never ever move away entirely from books made of paper and ink. Books that we hold in our hands, that we keep on shelves, that we revisit like good friends for years and years. Those who love books will get this. Those who don't will not. Let's just leave it at that.

~ last night a friend turned thirty and we celebrated with a party where everyone was required to wear a wacky wig. Fancy dress for heads. It was fun - great fun. This gift bag, hanging on my living room door was waiting to leave for the party... where, like it, there was a swirl of rainbow colour and style. I love to wear a party wig and I think that every opportunity to do so should be taken. Wig-wearing releases the alter-egos of people, usually their bolder, sparklier sides, and I love to observe those at play. Mine was red, very bright red, and curly and big. Very big. I was channelling someone who might have hung out with Dolly Parton in her big hair heyday and it was fab. Perhaps I'll model it for red day of our next colour week.

~ There's something magical about a kaleidoscope, isn't there? I'd like to collect them and so far I have two. More than one is a collection, right? This tiny one, a souvenir from a visit to science museum, offers up a rainbow both inside and out. It always makes me smiley.

~ today's breakfast. Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day to eat out - love it - but I'm not always very good about eating it at home. I know that's not good, so since I've moved I'm trying to make an effort to do so more regularly and one of the ways I find makes it easier for me to stick to this resolution is to make it up on a little tray. This morning I started my day with some red berry tea, cereal with milk and a sparkling blue sky - perfect.

And that rounds up colour week. I've enjoyed having the opportunity to look for the colourful comfort and sparkle in my living space. It's interesting to see one's own world through the lens with this kind of emphasis. It's shown me things and made me think about them as I might not otherwise have done. And it's given me something positive and creative to focus my attention on, which is always a good thing and just what I needed. Like Thoreau, I realise that the true harvest of my life to-date is intangible but that the things that surround me remind me of these, and facilitate the creation of them too - love, friendship, fun, learning, contentment... happiness. A rainbow of beauty and emotion. Thank you to lovely Lisa who initiated and hosted our colour explorations and to everyone who popped by to say hello, and who shared the beauty of colour in their worlds for our enjoyment. It has been a pleasure.

A happy, rainbow-filled weekend to you!

Colour week - an evening at home with pleasing purple

Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.

Alice Walker

(1944)

I arrived home from a couple of days away for work last night, dropped my bag at the door and rushed around with my little camera to capture some purple... while I was doing this I noticed that a lot of the purple I have in my space falls clearly into the sparkle or comfort camps. Purple is such a special colour to me (the third of my three faves, along with turquoise and orange) and one that I'm ever and increasingly enamoured with. I even love the words that are used to describe purpley colours: violet, lavender, lilac, plum, thistle, orchid, mauve, magenta, royal, amethyst, wine, aubergine, mulberry... all so deliciously evocative of rich experiences, scrumptious flavours and beautiful scents.

~ it was actually my overnight case that reminded me that I had not collected any purples yet. It's the perfect size for a night away for work, this bag, and although I do have more hard-wearing and practical black luggage because, well, it's practical, I always feel just a little less like I'm walking in Peggy's shoes when I carry the purple bag.

~ swapping my purple suede heels for comfy slip-ons begins the transition into relaxed, at-ease-at-home mode... If I'm not pottering around in bare feet or socks, these are my favourite house-shoes.

~ later, after a nice hot shower, a change into my fluffy robe completes the transformation from at-work me into at-home me. Once or twice a month this all happens before 7pm, and although there's no reason not to do this except convention, I still feel strangely decadent when I succumb to this nursery routine.  Although, now that the days are lengthening into the lovely long evenings we enjoy at this latitude in summer, I'm less inclined to dive into soft warm things as early. Still, sometimes it's as much an inner comfort thing as an outer comfort thing. Know what I mean?

~ I actually own a book called Mauve, a fascinating read for anyone interested in colour and a perfect photograph for today's colour theme. Unfortunately it's not made it out of a box and onto a shelf yet (I've run out of shelf space for the moment and am awaiting the delivery of a few more bookcases before I can finish the unpacking of all my books) so we'll have to wait for another opportunity to see that one.  While I was thinking about that, I popped into my study to fetch something and ended up taking this rather fuzzy picture of the purple books I have on the shelf in there instead. It's a bit disappointing to see that there are so few of them (is purple just not considered a good colour for book covers I wonder? And if so, why?) but I do love the ones I have. I don't know if you're familiar with Barbara Kingsolver's novels? The Poisonwood Bible is probably her most well know and remains on my top twenty best reads list - excellent. The rest are lighter in tone and content but I've enjoyed them too. I admire the easy, conversational and flowing writing style she has. Prodigal Summer is another one that I really enjoyed... Actually, I might dig that out and re-read it to get me in the mood for the great summer we've been promised soon. I live in hope. Of good weather that is.

~ while I was in the study, I stopped to take in a little beaded bauble that I have hanging on a door handle and quite inadvertently caught the lovely purple vase in the background, a beautiful house-warming gift from my landlords. I actually only noticed this when I downloaded the pictures and I know the lighting in this shot's not great at all, but I had to use it - two bits of purple sparkle for the price of one. I couldn't resist.

And that was that, a relaxing cup of tea (chamomile and vanilla, with a spot of honey), and the evening ended... An uneventful but pleasing purpley evening.

And now it's time to start another day... and to keep my eye open for green.

I haven't had a chance to make the rounds of all my fellow colour players yet (am getting really, really, really frustrated with cloud wi-fi internet access, which is intermittent at best in this area, despite being in the city centre, and means the best time for me to be online is apparently between 2 and 4 in the morning - oh how I miss my reliable, anytime, high-speed broadband) but those I have had a peek at are serving up a feast of colour loveliness. I look forward to visiting the rest soon...

Hope you have a happy purple day mes amis!

Five minute lovely list

~ Soft purple roses that smell as pretty as they look - flowers really do brighten up even the dullest Winter's day, don't they?

~ Sharing Bajan mojitos - new to me - tapas, some tears and lots of laughs with a friend - perfect healing end to a hard week.

~ Nutella on toasted bagels with English breakfast tea, made strong and milky - a delicious morning-after breakfast.

~ A good post day - real and virtual mailbox bursting with a week's worth of thoughtful treasures and kind thoughts from near and far.

~ Work's on the agenda this weekend but I've promised myself I'll call a halt after dark - reading, writing, catching up time then to look forward to - trying hard to maintain that illusive balance...

What's on your lovely list this weekend?

♥

All wrapped up with a bow...

Christmas – that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance – a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.

Augusta E. Rundel

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.

W. C. Jones

I wish you shelter from the storm

A cozy fire to keep you warm

But most of all when snowflakes fall

I wish you love

But most of all when snowflakes fall

I wish you love

I wish you love

I wish you love, love, love, love, love

I wish you love

Charles Trenet/Albert A. Beach

So, it's almost here... Christmas. I will be working my last day of the year today, have bid my friends and colleagues farewell as they head to be with their families, distributed my gifts, bought in food supplies, stocked up on movies, and am ready to batten down the hatches. There's an air of hush in the city now and I'm looking forward to a few quiet days.

To you, my blogging lovelies, friends, and family of my heart... for every visit, for every thoughtful word, for every laugh, for every gift of kindness, for sharing, for reaching out, for being there, for being here - thank you.

And however you celebrate it, I wish you and yours a very happy holiday - wrapped with a little sparkle and full to the brim of whatever makes you happiest. Most of all, I wish you love.

I'll see you on the other side...

♥

10x10=100

In celebration of her 100th post, Sandy K asked that we post a photograph that reflects the number 100 today...

There were a few contenders for me. Today I travelled 100 miles in 100 minutes (and then back) to attend a meeting of 100 ideas (although only half were interesting), and I wore a necklace of almost 100 beads (yes, I counted them in the less riveting moments of the meeting). Not the most positive of 100s. So I've decided to go with these instead... They're a work in progress still, the placecards that I'm making for my friend's wedding reception tables. The request was for something floral, fun and modern that reflects the colours being used throughout - purple, navy and pink, with a dash of silver. The bride and groom couldn't decide which of the sample designs they preferred. So, in the end, they're having them all: 10 designs for 10 tables - 100 wedding guests. I think it's an auspicious number for a wedding party, don't you?

♥

You are cordially and joyfully invited

to a

h Midsummer Picnic h

Here I am, lounging on the bed in my guest room. It enjoys the morning sun and is one of my favourite spots to sit at the weekend, blogging, reading or writing. And today, I'm here planning a Midsummer celebration. The sun is due to shine, I have the day off work, and I plan to head to the park with a friend for a picnic. I would love it if you'd join us....

h where h

right here in our blogosphere

h when h

Midsummer's Day

Wednesday 24th June 2009

all day

(whenever yours starts to whenever it ends)

h what h

wear something lovely

pick a flower to add to our bouquet

bring your favourite summer recipe to share

let us know that you'll be there

look forward to seeing you!

h

Five Questions...

yesterday, today and tomorrow

Gracious Graciel of Evenstar Art sent five lovely questions, designed 'specially for me to answer... Five quite straightforward questions, which I nevertheless found fairly difficult to respond to because I was determined to give no more than one answer per question and, as we know, that's so hard for me to do {*wink*}.

However, here they are... One question, one answer. Unless otherwise requested.

1. You have just come into a substantial amount of money and wish to return a portion to the Universe as a thank you. Which worthy cause would you donate to and why?

This one. I grew up in one of the best land-based whale watching spots on the planet. And have also on more than one occasion enjoyed the privilege of swimming with dolphins in the wild. These remain some of the most special and profound encounters of my life. They are just so beautiful and graceful and perfectly evolved for their lives in the ocean and I feel so strongly that our planet would be diminished without them. It breaks my heart that we are wantonly destroying them and their habitats. I can't do much. But I wholeheartedly support the efforts of those who fight their corner.

2. Quite obviously, you have a Goddess soul. What is your special niche power and how do you offer it to the world?

Hmmm... not entirely sure about this. I think my special power is being able to see and reflect others. Especially their as yet unlocked potential. I hope I offer it through the facilitation work I do and certainly little gives me more pleasure and satisfaction than the moment when someone finds it in themselves and I see the light come on in their eyes. It's a privilege to witness that.

3. If you were a flower, what kind and color would you be? why?

Oh this was a tough one. I love flowers and there are many I'd like to find myself in. I considered gardenias, wisteria, jasmine, frangipani... all flowers I love. Simplicity, fragrance and the fact that the flowers bloom prolifically but briefly is what they have in common I see now. But I finally settled on the yesterday, today and tomorrow. Also known as morning-noon-night and kiss-me-quick, this shrub blooms long and generously and flowers start off a deep rich purple, lighten to a softer lilac, and end up almost pure white. All three colours appear on the plant at the same time and I love that about it. It also smells divine. Why this one? Well, I like that it's evergreen, the flowers are simple and change throughout their lifetime and each version is beautiful in its own way. It's a plant that epitomises joyful abundance to me but can pass unnoticed unless someone detects the fragrance and pauses to look more closely. It's actually related to the deadly nightshade and taken in small doses acts as an expansive hallucinogenic (apparently!) and can be poisonous in large doses (which I hope is not like me but it might be, because I can be quite intense and some find that a bit uncomfortable). I also love the past, present and future aspect, which make it what it uniquely is in a "whole is more than the sum of the parts" way. My past, present and future are integral to who I am too, and there is nothing in them that others might not have experienced but it's the particular combination that is uniquely mine, and me.

4. Is there anything in your life you wish you could have done differently?

Truly, no. See the answer above. I am who I am because of my choices and what I've experienced - good, bad and indifferent. Joys, yes. Hurts, yes. Mistakes, aplenty. Regrets, no. I wish perhaps that I'd acknowledged my creativity earlier in my life and acquired some skills that I could use now to live a fully creative life (I was a swot, never studied art of any kind, even informally, until I was in my thirties) because it's harder for me to do that now. But my life is not over and I love that I am exploring and learning, and uncovering a whole new aspect of myself.

5. Name 3 things you MUST do (that you have not done yet) before your life is over.

I honestly couldn't think of anything I feel I MUST still do to be completely fulfilled. There are however many, many, many things I would still LOVE to do. These are three on my current list:

• Attend a creative retreat in the States - I've been thinking about this for a while and am hoping to make it a reality in the next year or so. A visit to North America and Canada to see loved ones is long overdue and I'd like to combine these. I believe a retreat like this will give me the opportunity to connect with kindred spirits (some of whom I might already have "intermet" and count as friends) and also properly unlock the creative in me in a safe but expansive space. And what fun!

• Write a book - don't really have a clue what it will be yet but I feel I have one in me somewhere.

• Fall giddily, wholeheartedly and joyfully in love with someone who truly sees me and loves me in return - for who I am, not despite who I am. I'm not sure I've gathered the courage for this yet but it's on the list now, which is progress.

Thank you Graciel! I enjoyed playing along and answering your thought-provoking and fun questions. Read Graciel's own lovely answers here.

[Purple beauty from Flickr]

Birds of a Feather

A's Day

{click to embiggen if you'd like a closer look}

~ setting out ~ en route ~ a little bridal bling ~ ormer shell earrings from her island home ~

~ no-one wears them better ~ strawberry picnic boat ~ colours of the day ~ beautiful flapper ~

~ girlie glam ~ cute waiters in the background ~ balloon love ~ flavour & fragrance ~

~ hen & chick magic ~ ready to fly ~ several champagne cocktails later ~ dancing the night away ~ 

♥

imPassioned Purple

What a colourful week we've had! I've so enjoyed exploring everyone's world through the spectrum. I've so enjoyed exploring my own little wardrobe world through the spectrum too. And I've confirmed a few things for myself:

• I love colour. It makes me happy.
  
• My wardrobe is not as neutral as I sometimes think it is.
  
• I probably could start a small shop with the beads, bags and baubles I have.
  
• My things are just things but they do have stories and their stories make them special to me.
  

Thank you to each and every one who has stopped by, read my ramblings, and stayed for a chat. Thank you to Lisa who has led the way with her glorious and colourful photographs and coordinated our efforts for easy enjoyment.

And thank you for ending the week on purple. Purple is my third favourite colour and I wear it quite a lot...

Purple passion - I love this purple fuzzy flower. I love it 'cause it's purple. I love it 'cause it's felt. I love it because the hands that made it belong to someone wise and funny and fabulous who reached out across the world and spread some of her beauty and colour my way. This is how it came to live with me. I love it.

Purple parrot & pearls - several years ago I needed to move. And I needed a new job. But I also needed not to be tied down for too long because I didn't know what I'd need next. I was lucky enough to find a maternity cover contract working with a great charity organisation, managing a team of lovely women who took me to their warm and generous hearts at a time when mine was mostly just going through the motions. They gave me a reason to get up every day, shared their strength and laughter, and helped me start the journey to finding myself again. When the contract ended after almost a year, I was ready to move on but sad to go. I had regained some energy and gained some friends. They gave me this beautiful necklace (and a matching bracelet) as a leaving gift and every time I wear them, I am reminded of how lucky I was to be in that place, at that time, with those people.

Drawn to the light - something about the shape of this sweet enamelled butterfly makes me think of a dancer with wings. It's dainty and delicate but don't let its demure looks fool you. It enjoys a good party. Here it's hanging over a lantern that I acquired when I was still living in London, bought especially for a harem party that my sister and I hosted. This is not as lewd as it might at first sound. We had recently spent a wonderful time in Istanbul and environs, where my sister was working for a while, and we wanted to enjoy an evening with friends, Turkish style. So we decked the living room out like a tent with colourful drapes of gauzy fabric, lots of candles, lanterns, flowers, and piles of cushions around a low table, where we invited a group of our girlfriends to join us for dinner, dressed "exotically, sumptuously and comfortably"... What fun it was. Everyone really pulled out the stops - one of my friends came in a sari style outfit made out of fake purple fur, hennaed hands, a bindi (or pottu) and her bedroom slippers. Another wore her silk lounging pyjamas and a kimono style robe, and a third wore her belly-dancing gear... It was great. We ate traditional Turkish summer fare, drank apple tea, and polished off a mountain of baklava (well, I polished off a mountain of baklava) while we set the worlds to rights. This lantern cast the most beautiful shadows over the event through its cut-out patterns and it was the butterfly that encouraged me to join the late-night dancing that ensued... 

Purple toes are pretty toes - how many purple nail polishes does a girl need you might wonder? Apparently quite a few! I have a bit of an issue with my toes. They are not of the neat and perfectly arranged variety. My sister has beautiful feet, dainty and symmetrical, and I'm sure my toes suffered a complex by comparison. For many, many years as a youngster I would not show mine in public unless I could absolutely not avoid it (like at the beach) and would never wear sandals. Silly. They may not be the prettiest, but I have ten and they work and toes are generally not the most attractive things are they? Anyway, I don't remember what the trigger was but I decided that it was ridiculous and that I was denying myself the pleasure (and comfort) of wearing so many lovely sandals and that I just needed to get over the whole toe thing. Strangely, because it really makes them even more conspicuous, I found it easier to show them with painted nails, than without. And so my love of polish was born. Now I enjoying playing with colours on my toes and I particularly love shades of purple, as evidenced by this little collection of my current favorites. All slightly different, some with a bit of sparkle, some with a lot of oomph, they live in their little bowl in the fridge door just waiting to come out and play...

 

Butterflies and books - I bought this bag a few years ago from one of my favourite stationery shops. Not a place one would necessarily expect to find accessories to wear but they do a great range of book bags and laptop carriers. I think it's probably fairly obvious why I could not resist it? Two of my favourite colours, butterflies galore and a great shiny finish, which feels lovely, is easy to maintain and is waterproof. Waterproof is important in the UK, land of many a rainy day. It's also really strong so it's the bag I use most often to go to the library because it can manage a good load and in the event of a shower, the books stay protected. It also often accompanies me on my longer train journeys to carry a magazine, my book, my laptop in its sleeve, a notebook, a pashmina, mp3 player, my camera, a snack... The essentials and the little extras that make a journey comfortable and complete.

 

Purple and a philosophy of life - this, the final of my beads and baubles to share this week, is a bracelet of amethyst beads, given to me by the above-mentioned sari wearer. Amethyst is said to have many properties associated with it that relate to healing, calm and spiritual wisdom and it was all these things that she wished for me when she made the gift. Apparently it helps insomnia too but, I have to say, I haven't particularly found that works for me. Either way, it's pretty and I love this bracelet because it came with so much love. I don't know why I took to draping it over the neck of this little zebra when I'm not wearing it (zebras are one of my favourite animals) but I did, and he wears it well I think? He certainly looks content enough. In the background a framed version of one of my favourite quotations by Henry Miller (also in my sidebar) and my nutshell philosophy on life. I couldn't have said it better.

Happy Purple Friday Lovelies!

♥

In a cloud of fragrant lilac, a rainbow...

So great to escape the city and hang out briefly in a lush oasis of friendship and calm, with the scent of Lilacs in the air and a pitcher of Pimms to share.

I'm also so looking forward to colour week, as co-ordinated by the queen of colour magic and curiosity, the lovely Lisa.

The agenda is:

~ Monday - blues

~ Tuesday - greens

~ Wednesday - yellows & oranges

~ Thursday - reds & pinks

~ Friday - purples

I can't wait to dive into all that colourful loveliness.

Sign up here if you haven't already done so and would like to play along... the more the merrier!

Sunshine toes

 

We love long lazy weekends, my toes and I. 'Specially if we can find a sunspot to curl up in.

It's been chilly and raining most of the weekend but then, briefly, the sun came out.... 

Happy toes. Happy me. 

So we took a little nap... one has to use these sunshine moments well.

I hope that whatever you're up to, there's a sunspot to be found in your weekend too. Literal or figurative.

Edit: for those who've expressed an interest in the polish colour... this one is Vixen by Revlon. There's a similar purply one that I wear by Rimmel called Pulsating - also very pretty. Who thinks up the names for these make-up products I wonder?! 

[P.S. Changed my header back because of a request from someone extra 'specially special who really likes this one. And actually, I think perhaps it does suit me better. So anyway, it's back, for a while at least.]

Purple Haze

Purple haze all in my brain

Lately things just don't seem the same

I'm acting funny, but I don't know why

'Scuse me while I kiss the sky

Purple haze all around

Don't know if I'm coming up or down

Am I happy or in misery?

Whatever it is is that girl put a spell on me

Help me help me oh no no

Hmmm...Ahhh...Hmmm...Ahhh

Yeah

Purple haze all in my eyes

Don't know if it's day or night

You got me blowin' on my mind

Is it tomorrow or just the end of time?

Lord help me help me

Yeah!

Jimi Hendrix

(1942-1970)

Purple haze - not for the same reason as Jimi. 

Just feeling a little bit punch drunk. Too much work. Not enough sleep. A new week and more of the same to face. Aaaaargh!

Tomorrow will be better.

 

[Flickr credit]

The earth laughs in flowers and this week, so do I

Where flowers bloom so does hope

Lady Bird Johnson

A little while ago I mentioned that I love felt flowers. 

Linda Sue, who makes the most exquisite felt figures and other felted beauties sent me a message saying that she would like to send me some of her feltwork flowers.  We 'met' only recently online so I was incredibly touched by her generosity of spirit and excited at the thought of adding one of her beautiful blooms to my collection. She asked me about my favourite colours and later mentioned that she had made a flower 'specially for me while doing a demo at a craft market.  So I knew that something special was on it's way....

I had no idea.

This week, on election day, I received this parcel in the post...

Blown away does not begin to describe how I felt as I opened this treasure chest. Firstly, the lovely box itself - a gorgeous vintage painted tin - and as I opened it a special card with the loveliest message....

And then... not one, two or even three flowers but an entire bouquet! I was, and am, overwhelmed.  Delighted, thrilled, and overwhelmed. ALL my favourite colours - orange, purple, red and turquiose.... SO beautiful!

The parcel also included some thoughtful quotations and a bar of handmade soap that added another floral dimension - the smell of lavender and rose. I wore one of the two purple beauties to celebrate the US election result and all day there was a hint of lavender - calming and beautifully evocative of summer. Lovely.

Linda Sue, thank you. It's been a good week. A week of hope and flowers.