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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Monday, January 03, 2011

JANUARY 2011

Please scroll through the whole post 

for Midweek Blues (Mountain sky) hosted by Rebecca at http://thedustycellar.blogspot.com, SORRY, I linked the wrong pic on Rebecca's blog - it should be the Sky of the mountain pic!
  and Watery Wednesday, no. 121 (the Pond) hosted by 2sweetnsaxy at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com 
and Weekend Reflections (shimmer of Branches, 2nd pic) at Click to see the rules and to take a badge for yourself. http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com hosted by James


Wish this was my window, but it's at the Huntington Library in Pasadena:)


Today the sun came out
after a week of splish splash
on my roof
wind ferociously  beating
orchestrating
Beethoven's unforgettable piece
on the chimes by my door

The sun came out today
 the addiction to be busy
is too seductive to resist
or is it not to feel?
when cars start zooming by
their wheels go go go
from early till after midnight

Pond (on right) of the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library, Pasadena

Today the sun came out
I keep my window shut
to keep the craze at bay
covered by the shade
On a bench I drink in
this first day
slowly writing on my brand new slate

My mind begins to sculpt
 new worlds open
with razor like precision
images of hope and joy
scenes of green pastures
abundance of grapes and wheat
the sound of an anvil

North side of Yosemite National Park, CA

They are promises
of paintings on the tip
of my brush
taking me with clouds
flying over big oceans
higher to realms
of unseen journeys.

Two weeks of rain (up till now)  is not a small thing in a desert climate. I thought of how it resembles the situation many of us have been in for the past two years. We don't like rain. 
But  rain germinates seeds that have been in the ground. And when the sun comes out, we will discover new plants coming up! I like the sun to come out for all of us this year! And I have some "seeds" I would like to see come up this year...what about you?

Afterthought
If I ever would be a numerologist, I would become one now, for in January we have
1 - 1 - 11  and  1 - 11 - 11. 
Wow, just thinking about  it that "eleven" in dreams means the end as well as the beginning.
If you thought something (a passion, a gift, etc.) had died ,
you may see the resurrection of it this year!



 


38 comments:

DUTA said...

The recurrent phrase in your lovely poem is" the sun came out".
The sun does a lot of good things when it comes out: it warms, it brings light, it makes things grow, etc..

May the New Year 2011 be a bright, shiny year full of light, warmth, prosperity, good health!

Stephanie V said...

I like the idea that we've been in a rainy season for the past couple of years and may have lots of good strong growth because of that.

Happy New Year!

PhotoVigor said...

Love the one second from the last.
:)

DawnTreader said...

Here we're still in a frozen landscape and likely to remain so for at least another 2½ months. It's been an extremely cold winter so far even for this part of the world (the coldest in 150 years or so). So it's still hard to even imagine things starting to grow again... Even though I know they eventually will!

Btw I have recently "re-planted" both of my blogs because the old account was getting full. You'll find links in the last posts of the old ones.

Zuzana said...

Are those top pictures the current pictures of your home? It looks like summer to me, how I envy you.;)
Yes I like the synchronicity in this years numbers.;) Happy 2011 to you and yours dear Jeannette,
xoxo

NitWit1 said...

In November we will have 11-1-11, 11-11-11.

The poem about the sun is great. It is out today after several dreary days of cold and rain.

Interestingly, it sometimes gives me energy and other times lassitude.

Jeannette StG said...

Duta,
Thank you for your New Years wishes, dear Friend! The poem came definitely out of how I felt the day that the sun came out! Your comment made me realize how we take the sun, rain, etc. for granted!

Stephanie,
You are such a positive person, seeing the good side of everything -I like that! Am excited for your new skill: spinning! and wish for you that it will bloom like a flower:)

Photovigor,
Thank you -it's interesting that you chose a pic that resembles Asia:) I took that pic in the Chinese Garden at Huntington Library in Pasadena. I admire your header -stunning!

Monika,
Thanks for keeping me up to date with your blog changes!
I don't envy you still having to live with freezing temps for so long. People I know in Holland have said the same: a very old-fashioned severe winter. Keep warm!

Jeannette StG said...

Zuzanna,
I WISH that would be my home (smile) -it is part of the buildings of the Huntington Library in Pasadena and once was the estate of a wealthy railroad owner!

Nitwit,
You have a very quick wit and observation ability about November:) My guess about how we feel about the sun has to do with our bodily functions and hormones?

Anonymous said...

what a lovely post.

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

Happy New Year. Great photos.

California Girl said...

Dear Jeanette: That is a wonderful thought and I hop you are right. I am so ready for change for a new beginning. I feel ungrateful saying that but I need a new beginning and I am looking for meaning in the damn numbers and the "new beginning" is the one I want to embrace. Of course, you know what they say: "Be careful what you wish for." I have a good job and a nice home we share with the MIL and my husband's health has recovered...but I am so tired. I think it's just a state of mind but who knows? I do go on. Thank you for the positive reinforcement.

California Girl said...

btw, if that is your home, it's really lovely. it is exactly what one longs for in CA.

EG CameraGirl said...

Actually, I LIKE rain. I even like walking in it...unless it's windy. :)

Unknown said...

gorgeous photos! i saw a beautiful flowering vine yesterday--a red passion flower.:p

Jeannette StG said...

ewok,
Thanks! In the meantime I looked at the great pic on your post:)

J Bar,
Australia is definitely on my list to see!

Simone,
Thank you -one of my friends has a doberman - very friendly dog (but too big for their tiny kitchen, LOL)

California Girl 2 times,
I've been thinking about you and I may write your email...sorry it's NOT my house - I WISH, LOL

EG Wow,
In Holland I liked to be outside even in the rain (Because in that country one spends a lot more time inside than outside) -but I guess because it's almost always nice weather in California I've gotten spoiled:)...and maybe because I'm older?

Luna,
Yes, I love flowering vines -they're so romantic...:)

Suburban Girl said...

Just wait til November....11/11/11. :) Love that Chinese garden. Looks so pretty. And the view at Yosemite - nice!

I couldn't figure anything out with your link, but I think this works fine.

2sweetnsaxy said...

Nice post and nice shots. :-)

Jim said...

Hi Jeanette ~~ Pretty pictures here. I like your Chinese Garden. I don't think our Pasadena (Texas) had a Chinese garden. We do have a Strawberry Park! :)

Happy New Year! Happy MidWeek Blues! (Sorry I'm late)
..

Unknown said...

Nice to see the sun as Boom & I are currently passing our days in gray overcast skies. Boom & Gary of The Vermilon River, Canada.

Ebie said...

Happy New Year, Ms. J. I am glad the sun came out after the heavy rains.

Surely the rains have been good to the gardens. These are nice shots of the Huntington.

I have been off line for a while, still recuperating from my colds.
Hope to be back soon.

A Cuban In London said...

What a marvellous, 'sunny' (I need it badly, it's bucketing down in London) post. Many thanks.

Happy New Year!

Greetings from London.

Yoshi said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog. Seeing flowers with a lot of sunlight is always fun! I love all of your photos very much but I noticed one thing on the third photo. I am afraid to say that you have a dust in your DSLR sensor, as I could see dark spot in the blue sky... I was sensitive because I just got rid of my dark spots two days ago. My camera was much worse than yours, I have to say!!!
Yoshi

Vicki Lane said...

I.too, was struck by the 1 1 11 and wondered about the significance. It seemed pretty cool.

Jeannette StG said...

Rebecca,
Yes, someone else pointed out the same date to me:) To be at 9000 ft. high is addicting! thanks for responding to the link -hope to do better next time:)

2sweetnsaxy,
Thank you! Up to anew year full of watery pics!

Jim,
Oh, didn't know that Texas also had a Pasadena! Strawberry Park sounds intriguing! The same happy New Year to you (if I didn't already:) )

Gary,
Thank you! And also for visiting my blog:)

Ebie,
Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well! Wishing you a soon and complete recovery!

Cuban in London,
Thank you Friend, an da Happy New Year to you!
What's in the bucket: rain or snow? I'm asking because some from the UK showed snowy pics not too long ago.

Y.Ikeda,
Oh, sorry, hubby had alerted me to the same, but I forgot to take the pic through Photoshop! Hope taking the dust out won't cost too much, LOL
If I didn't already, a Happy New Year to you!

Marvin said...

Glad you finally got to see the sun. Over here in the Ozarks we could actually use a little bit of that rain. Have a great 2011!

knittingdragonflies said...

Love the poem and the photos! I admire anyone who can write!
I also wondered about the 1-1-11, with the numerology.
Vicki

Sally in WA said...

The garden at the library looks so restful. Nice shots and thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

The branches shimmer in the 2nd shot and there are some nice reflections from the windows too!

Martha Z said...

Lovely shots of places I know well. When we lived in LA we were members of the Huntington and Yosemite draws me back several times a year.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots. I loved the national park view.

Cildemer said...

So much beauty here!
Great shots and a lovely poem!
And i love numbers too! My favourite one is 7;o)
And I love the sun of course, but as you say: the seeds need rain to germinate;o)

***
Have a great weekend, Jeanette****

Cezar and LĂ©ia said...

A blessed inspiration here!
Adorable poem and so beautiful pictures, something very special for us your friends, thanks so much!
and a nice Sunday for you and your family!
hugs
LĂ©ia

Jeannette StG said...

Marvin,
Thank you -that it will be a great blogging year for us all:) Yes, I remember snow in Missouri! Keep warm:)

arabesque said...

hi jeannette, first off, the library in pasadena seems a calm place to read a book and enjoy the view and the last bit in Yosemite was breathtaking.
i've been there years ago and your foto brings back good memories.
the first place i've seen the snow actually. ^0^

Jeannette StG said...

Vicky,
In high school I had a mandatory poetry class (in Holland), so that's where my dabbling in poetry stems from. I think it's great that you are pursuing painting!

Sally in WA,
Thank you, Friend! Have been in the Huntington Lib. before but never seen this one, they must have added it on later...

Woody,
You observed well! At the time I took this pic it was 91 deg.F. so we were looking for shade, LOL!

Martha,
Oh, how great to meet you this way:) Do you climb rocks? (because of you profile pic) - I don't, my preoccupation is painting them:)

Rahesh,
Thank you! Happy for the day I clicked on your blog, Rahesh and getting to know India better this way!

Cildemer,
Merci bien, mon ami! (hope "mon ami" is the right word in this case?)
The beauty is why people love to vacation in California:) Seven is a great number, as it means "perfection" in general!
I like the number 8 too (which means new beginnings:)).

Leia,
Thank you so much, both of you! so well said - finally I have come to the place that we take it easy on Sundays (instead of running to get all the leftover things done):) Warm greetings (since it's cold in W.Eur. now:)

Arabesque,
Oh, isn't Yosemite a breathtaking place? There, snow is glorious, to see it on these high mountains (especially for a girl from Holland where most of the country is utterly flat:) )

Carolina Mountains said...

Nice to see the sun! And green living things again!

Jeannette StG said...

Carolina Mountains,
Just having read not to long ago that you hate snow, this post must mean a reprieve for you:):) Cheer up, the snow will not stay forever:)

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Wonderful blog! I follow you!! Travelling