Dreary

It's a gray, dreary day so far.  The leaves are all down, some still in the backyard but my husband got most of them in front.  I can look through the woods and see the edge of the neighbor's pond again.  The colors went from verdant green in summer, to the reds/yellows/oranges of fall and now we are in the between time.

That is, between fall and Christmas time when we bring green back and pair it with maroon or red.  We must just love color; it is inherent in us.  Every holiday has a color associated with it.  In March when we long for the spring, we have the shamrock green of St. Patrick's Day.  In the throws of winter, we have Valentine's Day and enjoy the brightness of red.  And then just before we really feel the warmth of the sun again, we enjoy the pastels of Easter.

Colors mean a lot.  The experts say not to paint a room with too much yellow -- it' makes a person uneasy and a bit agitated.  And they warn against too much yellow in a restaurant; you want people to feel calm and rested.

Pink is soothing and quieting, which is why that color is used in places that require all the help they can get -- for example, prisons or jails.

Red is rich and warm but too much and it is also uncomfortable. 

When we went through the green and gold era in the 1970s, it just seemed like the world couldn't get enough of it and then all of the sudden we came to our senses -- but not in time to prevent the green and gold appliances unfortunately.

What we don't necessarily have to put on the walls, we can add with pillows.  It is used over and over again in decorating -- a neutral pallet with splashes of color in the artwork, pillows, rugs, and lamps. 

What color is your world?  Sometimes a splash of color in a room you use a lot is a great way to get perked up.  Scent is another one.  Personally, I love natural fragrances like pumpkin, apple, vanilla.  And then there is music -- again, it has an effect on us in a variety of ways.  The producers of Hollywood movies have been doing that to us for a long time.  Remember the movie, Dr. Zhivago?  That movie was as much the music as it was the unbelievable scenery.  The sound track sold very, very well.

So when things get a little dull in your life, spice it up with color, scent, and sound and have it at the ready!! 

Well, here's a tip from a lady who doesn't like to clean sometimes.  When her house is starting to look really cluttered and it needs a good going-over, she turns on an episode of "Hoarders" and boy, does she get a jolt of energy.  She said after watching just one episode, she can go for hours!! 

Well, I am off to Curves this morning and then we have our makeshift art class this afternoon.  I get to enjoy again the colors of the seasons anytime I want in the art.  I think today I'll work on a watercolor of Birch Allee, from a photograph I stood at Stan Hywet in September.  Hope it turns out decent.

Take care, and keep praying!!