Five Minute Friday: Red

 The color of romance, love, fire, rage, stop. Extreme emotions, loud, bright, unmistakable.

And yet, also, the color of blood, of hurt, of pain.

Red. It reminds us that we're human beings, that we feel deeply and act, sometimes without thinking. It's the chosen color for the words of Christ in the printed Bible, and the color of rich, velvet, kingly luxury. It brings to mind paintings - cubism, impressionism. Woman and little girl in a field of poppies, boats bobbing in the lake, and strange faces and sharp angles.

But mostly, I see red as life. Red itself seems alive, and full, and passionate. It seems warm and welcoming to me, with a dash of peppery spice, of vivacious surprise.

What is it about color? Memories, places, people. Some hear music and see color, some think words and associate a hue. Amazing that we can see in color, and share that added beauty together.

little things

Oh, the little things.

Tiny purple flowers, barely-there breezes, fluttering leaves, sunshine and shade dappled grass, tangy lemonade, bare toes, the comfort of leaning on my husband's chest, a content stomach, a full heart, a peaceful mind.

Each day holds something little to be thankful for.

Today? 

1. The speckled bird just above me as I put a thank-you note in the mailbox.
2. The reason for the thank-you note: a fridge full of groceries that we couldn't afford on our own.
3. The beauty of picked-for-me roses, hand delivered by my momma, with a hug, of course.
4. A not-too-hot, not humid morning with clear blue skies, sun, and a breeze.
5. Clean sheets and a dryer that works
6. As much water as I need
7. Comfortable, stretchy workout pants. Today, I will walk.
8. Tears that simultaneously express my pain and heal my heart
9. The possibility of a collegiate teaching position - daring to hope
10. Peace in the knowledge that all my needs will be met. All of them. Praying for contentment and wisdom to be willing to let go of things I don't need, and trusting for the things that we really do need.

celebrating beauty

As we were on our way to church on this beauteous Sunday morning, my husband noticed a bright flower on the side of the road and tried to point it out to me as we drove by. Unfortunately, I missed it in my headache-induced mental fog and worries about being on time. He described it as a coral-colored flower, and I couldn't think of what it might be. Coral flowers? Nope, couldn't think of one.

On the way home, though, he spotted it again! This time, we pulled over, and he told me to hop out and pick a few! Oh, yes! Poppies. So sweet. I love the way he knows what I like - the little things that delight me. Back when we were dating, it would be rare if he would even notice a flower, let alone point it out to me. I'm so grateful for the husband God gave me! He's pretty great.

 

Here are the glorious poppies he found for me! Look at the neat shadows they make.

I love the way their "furry" stems droop under the weight of their tissue-paper thin petals.

Doesn't it look like it should be a day at the beach? Something about those colors....

I love the way their seeds aren't really black, but a deep gray-purple. And so soft!

And this picture makes me almost like the white painted plywood replacement top for the white metal patio table that our apartment was "furnished" with. It's kinda shabby-chic with flowers on top.

The petals feel like a really rich silk. 

Can you imagine a swirly summer skirt made of perfectly wrinkled coral silk?

These photos are just begging me to pull out my watercolors and try to capture the beauty... I'll have to plan to paint soon after our move.

Isn't God's creation amazing?

balloons!

I've always liked balloons. You, too? Punchy balloons, the ones that float with helium, balloon animals (but not the sound they make!), balloons tied to the mailbox because we're having a party, balloons to announce a new baby, the colorful plethora of balloons in the movie Up... The innocence of balloons is charming, childlike, and (insert other ch- word here. I'm out of ideas). I love that they defy gravity, and especially that people can soar all over in hot air balloons! It absolutely delights me when I spot one way up in a perfectly blue sky.
A few times lately, hot air balloons that have landed in the wide-open fields around our home. Here are two that I spotted as the sun was going down Friday night!

Lovely.

here i am

at work. still. and wondering what my day really amounted to - did i do anything eternally worthwhile? really, was putting in one new house listing, printing and emailing statistics, and putting together the daily report really that interesting? or helpful?

i should have taken the day off.

on the other hand, it's a lovely day. i had a nice walk/jog at lunchtime, and it was beautiful! it's "warm" again - in the 20's (Farenheit). The sunshine was a nice change of pace.

tonight my husband and i may go out to celebrate an early Valentine's Day...next weekend will be inconvenient for us. and who's to say that Valentine's Day can't be early? i like it. Even if we just stay in and dedicate the time to each other, that will be enough.

still so in love.

and i know i will be for the rest of my life.

snowy

it has been snowing all day so far - i woke up to big fluffy fake-looking flakes that looked like they belonged on a movie set in the middle of the summer. it's really pretty snow, and i'm enjoying watching it fall as i sit here at my desk. the only downside to snow is the driving in it. well, and the cold. but only one of those is preventable, so i'll just try to be happy anyway.

so we bought a new car... and we're picking it up tomorrow. it'll be so much easier for us to be able to fulfill our scheduled commitments. i really hope it turns out to be great! my husband is excited about having a car at all, and the fact that it's a bit sporty makes him happy. (ps - it's fire engine red! whoa!)

before things really got going this morning at work, i was able to take a few minutes to sketch a picture of a red-breasted nuthatch on a piece of scrap paper. i used a photo that one of my flickr friends took as a reference point. it turned out alright - i haven't sketched much lately. i should get back into that.

speaking of which - i should be getting back to practicing piano and voice. and doing art more often than once in a blue moon.

and i should get back to work.

i am thankful that God provides the work of our hands.

girls' night

last night was really nice - a bunch of the girls and i all got together and had a girls' night in. it involved making really tasty salads, enjoying nutella and truffles, and just being girly together. i haven't had fun like this since college, and it was great to enjoy their company!

coming home, though, made me even more thankful for my husband. he is everything i could have asked for, and so much more than i deserve. so in love.

today i'm thankful for the beauty of the blue sky and sun - so lovely.

my husband's car broke down and is irreparable. today we just bought a new-to-us used car from a man at church who fixes up old cars and resells them at a crazy-low price. we're so blessed to be able to even get another car - and we're thankful. even though it means half our savings are gone.

we'll make it through - God takes care of us, and provides for all our needs.