Santa Claus is Coming to Town

We found Santa Claus in a favorite antique shop in Collinsville, Connecticut. He’s completely handmade of metal, which suits me fine because he camps out on the front deck every year waiting for the real Santa. We wanted to make sure he could take the cold New England weather. He used to spend the weeks before Christmas inside a department store. Until he was put out to pasture. We had to bring him home. Related Images:
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The Color White

The color white has so many interpretations, almost all are positive. As a colorist I don’t often admit that white is essential in complementing the effusive use of colors, prints and light. Besides, it’s ALWAYS lovely to look out the morning after the first snowfall in New England. Related Images:
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The Life and Colors of Colonial New England

Roses were an important contribution to life in colonial America. In England, roses were considered so valuable that rose and rosewater were considered legal tender and fell under the control of the king. Historically, rose bushes were passed down through generations. For myself, I just love the scent and colors! Related Images:
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The Bittersweet Tale of an Invasive Plant

The word “invasive” sounds rude. Morning Glories, and my most favorite color Midnight Blue, are considered such a scourge. Prior to my experience over time, I was firmly in denial about that. The color, the shape, the transient beauty whose life spans a single day, how could it ever be considered undesirable? Related Images:
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Aphrodite, Daughter of Sea Foam, Goddess of Love

September 12th is our wedding anniversary so I was inspired to post an image of roses and then to look deeper into the historic association of roses and love. Did you ever wonder about that? The word rosa comes from the Greek word rodon, meaning “red.” A Greek rose was a deep, crimson color—the color of “blood and passion. The red rose in Greek and Roman iconography was tied to Aphrodite, or Venus, the Goddess of Love.  Related Images:
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Tomorrow is a New Day

My hard drive crashed yesterday. Wallowing in the depths of despair is neither fun nor attractive so I try not to. Happily, I always work with a back-up drive. It was however, several hours of freak time before Apple Support walked me through the place I currently sit- in the middle of restoring a corrupt hard drive. Related Images:
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Colors and Serenity In A Summer Garden

My husband gave me dusty pink roses for my birthday. I quickly realized that aside from green, shades of pinks are the main colors in the summer garden at present-with peonies and spirea bushes. Along with the rich brown hue of the Serenity Statue.  Related Images:
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Gardens are more than flowers

Now that the bones of the new garden are in place, I’m learning each month what’s working or not from a plant perspective. At the same time, flower gardens are more than just flowers. A garden can be a sanctuary, a place for being. Related Images:
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Survivor Plants

I’ve developed certain attitudes about plants overtime that are akin to attitudes about life. Attitudes evolve for a combination of reasons, some inherited, some experiential, some associative and some just whimsical. Related Images:
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