". Arranged Words: Changes

31 Jan 2017

Changes


 Hi there,

As you can see, I've made a few changes. Call it a blog lift. It's scary. There's hardly any blue left in sight! (If you are new here, I readily admit to being crazy about blue.)  I don't even like to use a black pen, and will walk a mile to find a blue one. Although for easy reading, I usually type with black/grey ink in blog land. I occasionally draw with a black pen but it's difficult for me. In loving blue,  I am not alone. Survey says: blue is the favourite colour. Period! What a slap in the face to one's concept of uniqueness, but, then again, we are all kindred spirits at heart.  It seems my original blue scheme lost the plot next the snowscape pic, so red lettering it is until spring arrives, or until I have a change of heart.
Speaking of colour, I've been craving it. So here we go...



                             Standard January fare...tulips and daffodils. Puts a spring in my step.

 I always hope for a cool spring so that I can stroll by the neighborhood gardens to stare at the tulips.  If it's too warm, they fizzle. Stunted and struggling, they take on that sad this is it look.

* Tip of the day. For cut tulips, drop in a few ice cubes into the vase now and then to cool down their  toes. They love it!

Back in the day, (And a very long day ago it was--say early 17th century.) you could trade the farm, furniture, implements, and your animals for a tulip bulb. (Think Jack and the Bean stock.) Wouldn't the wife and family be pleased? Fortunes were made and lost. It sounds a bit more romantic than  pork belly futures, and once the craze hit, it hit. M-A-N-I-A! "Step right up, secure your future, buy a tulip bulb!" It's a good thing that I was not alive at that time. She did what, son? Yes, mother you heard it right. She sold the farm for a tulip bulb. Rack and ruin! 
That wifee though, she doth protest:  But, but, BUT I must have beauty!!!

 The movie, Tulip Fever will be released next month. I'll be watching.

  Here in Canada, Maple Leaf Tulips will be popping up all over this spring
               in honour of Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation.  (Top row second and third from left on the link page are prime examples.) They are so pretty and were, of course, bred to resemble the flag.

             


  Yet another reason I'm looking very forward to the Tulip Festival in Ottawa ~ Gatineau in May.
                                     
                                           Not until May, you say? Pity!                                                               



  "Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul." Luther Burbank



                           Purple for royalty. That's how it used to be. Purple cloth was too expensive
                           for mere mortals way back when the dye was cast from sea shells. 
Amaryllis.  A never fail winter favourite of mine. They are easy and fun to grow. Every 
year I hope to find different colours. 
Besides being beautiful.  They also hold the keys. 💗
                              I love old keys, and have recently started a collection.  I sometimes wonder 
who carried them, which clocks were wound nightly and by whom, or which house doors they 
locked and unlocked.  I'm not certain the skeleton key on the right is old though, but a keeper it is.

                                        

After Christmas, I try to catch the Amaryllis sales. I can't resist.

Such a lovely blooms and what a colour. (Looks like I may have nailed the colour 
on the breast of the little bird below. Who knew? Serendipity!)
*
"Flowers don't worry about how they are going to bloom.
They just open up and turn toward the light.
And that makes them beautiful." Jim Carrey

 I started this little painting on the wrong side of a bit of scrap paper. It's difficult to tell which
 side is the right side if it's not marked, but I didn't have a plan...simply the time and the will
 to create something.
 
                    "With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy."

                                                                  Oscar Wilde  
                                                          Did he mention birds?


A line drawing in basic black and white with a touch of red thrown in.
Arches scrap paper--frayed edges and all.

                                           "I must have flowers, always and always."

Claude Monet

Truly a man after my heart.

'Til next time...

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blue, oh yes, blue!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the beautiful pictures of flowers, Dixie. I have gorgeous orange/yellow cut tulips in a vase with white Freesia, a feast for both the eyes and nose! Seeing your pictures of Amaryllis, makes me wish I'd bought several. Sadly, I didn't. However, I just bought a beautiful Azalea tree (standard). It's a beautiful soft pink. I love it. I with Monet on the subject of flowers!
0~ ) Love, Joannie

Mascha said...

Thanks for this wonderful post. I like them all, the tulips and amaryllis (mxy mother has so much of them, old sorts)... all colors and blue!!!
It's my dream to visit a tulip festival.
Enjoy your day

Kim said...

Blue.....is there any other colour??=) It must be wonderful for you to have all those gorgeous coloured flowers in your home after such a long winter. I think Oscar Wilde must have forgotten to include the beautiful birds. LOVE your amazing black and white line drawing, Dixie. It is incredible....you are so very clever!! AND.....yes, one must always have flowers.

Anonymous said...

Dix: I read a book, 'Tulipa' all about tulips. It spoke of the tulip fever you mention in this blog! Incredible, isn't it. Joannie

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Hi Joanie,
You are so welcome! Freesia smells so wonderful. Unfortunately, it's not for sale here, but I am going to the city in Feb., so hope I can find some. I did pass a new flower shoppe the other day. Dare I go in? :)

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Joanie, it sounds like we have both been on the same page so to speak. :)
Once, I read somewhere that they were paying the equivalent (in today's funds) of 70 thousand dollars for one bulb! Can't wait for the movie.

Carolyn said...

I enjoyed the novel Tulip Fever and I am glad to know a movie is coming! Love your photos, because I love flowers. They can really brighten a gloomy day.

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

The new look is quite wonderful. I am sure you will find ways to insert a bit of blue here and there. You have such lovely collection of flowers, Dixie. I love tulips, even more than roses, if you can believe it. I had no idea tulip bulbs were so valuable. Go figure! The black and white drawing is amazing. I wonder what the birds are saying.

-Soma

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Hi Carolyn,
Hadn't heard about the book. Thanks, I will check it out. Flowers do make the world a better place and they certainly perk things up! Thank you.

Linda aka Crafty Gardener said...

We love going to the tulip festival in Ottawa, our favourite city to visit.

Anonymous said...

Love the opening picture. The flowers are beautiful also. We finally have some snow here. It came all at once! Played in the snow for hours the dogs and I did. Happy New Years and Valentines Day!-Debits