Monday, September 5, 2011

Rainy Days and Mondays





It is so wonderful seeing water gushing out our down spout!


(Can't help but wonder what the neighbors think ... "what on earth
is she doing in the pouring rain, crouched down and making a picture?")  ☺


They don't know us very well or know we are bloggers.








The splashing rain on our patio table was most welcomed!
We were so water/rain deprived when we lived in Texas.  We read now the restrictions are back in force in Plano.   Clint says it affected him
in a psychological way, a negative way.


I will never complain again about rain messing up my hair!


It is a rainy day and a Monday.  As I have written in the captions in the above pictures, I am happy about the much needed rain on this Monday.  The Carpenter song, "Rainy Days and Mondays," has always been a favorite of mine.  One of my paintings (permanent collection) in The Knoxville Museum of Art is entitled "Rainy Days and Mondays".  There are no photos of it. :~/  The painting is of a woman looking out a window, I love the "window theme" in paintings.  I digress.  Someday Clint and I are going to the museum and inquire about it.

This morning Clint and I were saddened to learn one of the bloggers we follow, who follows our blogs, received some bad news.  She had cancer a few years ago and it has returned.  Her two recent biopsies have come back positive. She is such a courageous and brave woman to begin with, she sought The American Dream and is living it on her farm.  She appreciates what so many take for granted. She has the love and prayers of so many supporters.


I'm still sorting through things in my studio/office, getting it ready to be able to paint the walls my special "Serenity Blue" color.  Today I made an attempt to create some atmosphere in the chaotic room. 





I can't believe I found this book at Big Lots!  This box contained
a woman's journal with inspiring diary passages and 30+ paintings.
Also in the box is a CD that I have been playing today.


The  music is to "set the mood for contemplation, reading and writing."   It contains
works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Satie and MacDowell.


Several of the paintings from this book have already
been posted on my blog.






Books, books and more books.  It is painful to have to part
with a beloved book.  I  pared down the books before we moved.
I am hoping the bookcase I'm getting will hold them all!







Another love of mine ... vintage prints.  Here are a few.  On the bottom
left is a signed Wallace Nutting hand tinted photograph.


The cupid in the oval frame is not a reproduction,
it is an actual signed photograph.






A scented candle as part of my attempt to
add a sense of serenity to this disorderly room.






A few months ago I was telling Clint I had read "Remembrance of Things
Past" by Marcel Proust was considered by many to be the most
boring book ever written.






Clint asked me why would I hang on to a book  that
 was considered the most boring in the world?  Good question.  I also think
my answer is pretty good, too.  ☺

It makes me feel good.  I just like knowing the book is around, I like the box and
the design on the box.  I like looking at the box.  There is an appreciation
for the effort that was made writing this book.

I like it simply because if for no other reason, it looks good!




6 comments:

Shady Del Knight said...

If the most boring book in the world makes you feel good - if you like knowing it's around - and if you have an appreciation of the effort that was made in writing it - then that explains why you're still following Shady's blog! (LOL)

You are firing on all cylinders now, Cindy. You're playing it smart. You reframed a rainy day as a positive and welcome experience, knowing about the terrible drought back home in Texas. You are preparing to paint your room serenity blue. You are using special background music and the sweet scent of a candle to alter or establish your mood. Now all you need is a massage from Clint and a bowl of strawberries dipped in chocolate and you'll be delighting all of your senses. These are all tools that help us win the battle over the blues. Use them every day. Happy Labor Day, dear friend, and thank you again for your intelligent remarks on my blog today!

Clint said...

You've cerfainly done a LOT of work on that studio of yours! It's a work in progress, but it IS coming along.

Yes, I suspect the neighbors have noticed we are rather different---always doing things like taking pictures in the rain and doing our own thing apart from the peer group.

Speaking of old books, I love them, too. But the future is in electronic books and readers. The E-readers may be much more functional, but it is pretty damn sad to think that books are soon to be a thing of the past.

Now, I guess I have to take the advice of Shady and find you some chocolate....

Anonymous said...

HI CINDY,

WHAT A LOVELY POST YOU HAVE WRITTEN, SWEETHEART!! YOUR INSPIRATIONAL BLOG IS A WONDERFUL POETICAL RETREAT FOR ME. I LOVE IT!!
I TRULY ENJOY READING YOUR POST.
IT'LL BE SAD ONE DAY, IF WE DON'T SEE BOOKS ANYMORE. I LOVE BOOKS!! I PERSONALLY OWN THOUSAND OF BOOKS IN MY PERSONAL LIBRARY ALONG WITH MY COMPANION'S LIBRARY. HE IS A DOCTOR, A MEDICAL SURGEON. SO, WE BOTH ENJOY READING AND WRITING A LOT. WE'LL SOON VENTURE INTO NEW PROJECTS THAT FILL OUR HEARTS WITH JOY, SUCH AS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
THANK YOU, CINDY FOR SHARING YOUR HEARTFELT PIECE OF HEAVEN WITH THE WORLD!!
I HIGHLY APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS.
HAVE A HAPPY LABOR DAY, CINDY AND CLINT, AND ALL YOUR BELOVED ONES!!
GOD BE WITH YOU ALL!!
BLESSINGS,
POET STARRY DAWN.

kelli said...

what a lovely post! rain, books, art, and a candle. does it get any better?=)

i've always liked "rainy days and mondays", too. my dad played a lot of carpenters for us growing up.

Nova said...

Oh yes...rain is so good for the nature. After a long dry period you can hear the nature singing because she is happy.

Great shots!!!

Greetings

Cindy Ellison said...

To my dear blogger friends---Shady, Starry Dawn, Kelli and Petra, thank you all so much for reading this and commenting. It's been one of 'those' weeks and I have not been a good blogger! :~) Shady, we did have some chocolate, not strawberries dipped in chocolate but brownies that I made. My daughter and grandson stopped by so that was a good thing and they had some brownies, too! I got out of working in the room, too! he he Nothing like chocolate for what ails us! Looking forward to part II of the Interstate Fair installment!

Starry Dawn, thank you for such kind and sweet words. I hope you are enjoying working on your new blog, I need to check it out and see what's happening! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and comment! Many blessings to you and your family! ♥

Kelli, I used to love the Carpenters, too. I played my album over and over. Would you believe I still have not gotten too much done in this room! Life got in the way! ;-) Kelli, thank you for stopping by my blog! Have a wonderful week.

Petra, we sure have enjoyed the rain after not having any for so long. Thank you so much, you are so sweet and faithful! Hope you have a good week! Take care.