Janet's House

Embracing the Gray

Gray has been on my mind a lot lately, mostly in paint and fabric swatches, but also in the dreary rain here in the northwest.  As with the moodiness of the weather, the gray can affect moods and temperaments in people.  I decided to take a drive and capture some beauty in the gray so I could come back feeling refreshed and ready to work.

I drove up in the hills to get a good look at the homes and areas that can literally stay in the clouds all day long.  I like how you can see the layers of gray and green tones in all the trees as they fade away in the fog.

         A muddy lane becomes intriguing in the wet, cool afternoon. I must admit, everything is also very green.

I do love the color gray, even if I find it difficult to embrace the weather. I find I’m wearing more gray than black and I love the way it works with other colors. Even today, I looked down and I had layered my two favorite coats for my journey.

On New Years Day I could be found painting my living room, gray, of course. I was worried that it would end up looking like a stormy day, but on the contrary, I think it looks fresh and wonderful. I love it with the white accents and wood tones.

I’m remembering this beautiful, easy to knit gray cowl I made a couple of years ago. Click here for the link to that post.

I’m cutting squares of this wonderful gray canvas  for a new line of pillows.  A reflection of our love for wine. Just for fun. It’s off to the screen printers tomorrow, then I’ll stitch them up and share the finished product in about three weeks.

So there it is, todays reflections on gray…or grey?? Either way they say, but I’ll stay with ‘gray’. I just like the way it looks.

Saturday in the Park

This fountain is one of my favorites. It’s in the same area as the Beaverton Farmers Market. The water dances as kids of all ages run through it, never quite dodging the spray and probably not really wanting to.

 

 

 

Rainer Cherries were everywhere. A cool spring was good to this crop.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

   Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The band played on

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Have a great weekend!!

Independence Day 2011

Our neighborhood has a 4th of July parade every year. It’s a bit like stepping back into the 50’s or 60’s which is probably when it originated.  The neighborhood kids decorate their bikes, wagons and even their dogs.

 

 

Friends and neighbors visit while the parade assembles.  A fire truck joins and helps escort the entrants as the parade  serpentines through the neighborhood toward the park.

 

 

 

Parade watchers along the route set out chairs to cheer on the participants.

 

 

 

I love a good old touch of Americana. Whatever you do to celebrate today…

        Enjoy!!

Picture Walk

I took a picture walk today. I’ve never done this before but I walk the dogs every day and have enjoyed watching everything come alive this spring. Today I took my camera with me and snapped away at whatever I saw.   

            

I felt a little weird of course; maybe someone was watching and wondering what I was up to. I’m pretty sure I didn’t look too ominous though, as I really do walk around this neighborhood every day. The sun was out, the sky was blue and everything looked lit up.

           

It gave me the opportunity to find something at every turn, to really appreciate and think about what was capturing my attention. The flowers were bright and bold and after a lovely weekend, most yards were groomed and ready to receive attention.  

 
It was a fun way to take a walk. Give it a try. If you want to see the rest of the photos from my walk, click here.

Lens365

Last week I began a new discipline.  I am going to take a photograph every day. Not to worry, I won’t be posting them on my blog everyday, unless of course it’s today and I find my picture amusing…or soulful…or poignant …or, well, you get the idea; you will be seeing the photographs from time to time.  I’m taking on this new project to learn more about how to take a good quality photograph. I’m learning the techniques of cropping, resizing and downloading as well as the artistic properties of photography. If you would like to see my photos you’re welcome to visit the link to the right called Lens365.

I am sensing the same eagerness and anxiety in the process of photography that I do in writing. I’ve already found that when I’m looking for things to photograph I sometimes feel a little bit frantic; trying to find the perfect thing; something that will define the day for me. I have to insist to myself that in order to enjoy this development, it has to be fun. Some days the perfect photo will find me, other days I’ll take a picture of something that shows no imagination or is so cliché that it bores me. So what?? That’s day to day life isn’t it? My goal is to evolve, so that my photos will show more imagination and spirit which will be a reflection of how I look at life. I will also learn more about the art of photography and the expertise involved to get a really first-rate photograph. Once again I find myself realizing that I truly learn by doing.

Since a picture is said to be worth a thousand words, I will use very few if any words to describe each picture. Sometimes a caption will be meant to leave a question in your head, rather than answer one. Other times, I hope it will help to amuse or enlighten, but never actually explain the photo. In writing I search for the right words to define what I’m attempting to make clear, whereas in photography you will see the picture and come to your own conclusion on whether you like it or not.

I suggest that everyone find the discipline to something they enjoy everyday. We all seem to put off the things we want to do for the things we should do. We work, we go to the grocery store, we do laundry, we ferry kids, etc, and always wish we had the time to read, knit, write, bake, sew, photograph, etc. Hmmm, what’s wrong with this concept??  We are all guilty of using our down time to play on the computer or watch TV. What if we took just 30 minutes a day to do something we wanted to do? Something when completed is tangible.  Put down the remote and pick up your knitting. Get off the phone and plant a garden. Pick up the camera and find something to photograph. Write about your day; the good, the bad and even the ugly. Being creative always clears the head of useless debris.

Begin now, even in the middle of the month. It doesn’t have to be a New Years resolution. It can be a Spring Resolve. Do something for yourself!