"Don't wish me happiness I don't expect to be happy all the time....It's gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Thursday 25 June 2015

A painted door and summer solstice

I don't really know when morning begins. I do know that sometime around 5 am when the little angel wakes up it is daylight. Half an hour later when I get up sunlight is sparkling and scattering the shadows in the trees along the edge of the yard. On summer solstice our sunrise was at 5:09 am. I love these long days where daylight stretches on like a sleeping cat. Over the past week I decided to spruce things up on my back deck with a bit of red paint. I used Victorian red by CIL. This is the same red as my windows. Red is the complementary colour to green and with the forest greenery all around I really like how it warms things up and makes the cabin sing. More than anything else it was something that needed to get done but I was pleasantly surprised at how much it brightened my spirit's. Sunset on solstice was at 9:30 p.m. At 10:00 p.m. it was still plenty light enough to take the scissors and cut a bouquet of flowers in the garden. As usual I didn't fall asleep until the last robin had fallen silent and the glowing gold of the longest day of the year had faded forever into the western sky.
Sent from my iPhone

20 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post here, Ronda. I can just picture you and your day as it played out. I love the red door- I think it is just perfect for the setting you are in. Blessings- I hope you have many long, lovely summer days- xo Diana

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    1. Thanks Diana. I've been undecided about the colour of this door for a year now. I think it pays to be patient and wait as I'm happy with it now. I hope you have beautiful summer days too. Thank you for dropping by. It's nice to hear from you!

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  2. Such a lovely picture you painted with your words, Ronda! Your door looks marvelous. I might do my front door red after seeing how nice yours looks! Have a blessed evening, dear!

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    1. Hi Kimberly I thought I would share how I painted the door. I simply opened it and painted it with a brush. I painted around the doorknob and deadbolt and then quickly using a damp cotton rag I wiped any paint off that got on them. I like cotton because it's a bit stiff and holds its edge well. I'm sure there is many ways of painting a door but this was my technique. Ronda

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  3. Ok, now I know why we click so well, it's all about the red love! ;) So perfect and so pretty. I love your description of morning and night. So peaceful.

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  4. So sweet of you Kim. Yes I do like red but for the most part I keep it outside. I need more calming colours inside. Ronda

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  5. "...where daylight stretches on like a sleeping cat." I love that image, and it's true. Going to bed and waking up, too, are so sweet in summer.
    The red door and trim are great!

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    1. Thank you Gretchen and thank you for visiting and commenting. I am happy to meet you!

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  6. Dearest Ronda, your words sing.

    Summer is the perfect muse for relaxing prose, for budding poetry. Your red door is fabulous, giving a jolt of possibilities upon entering your cottage. The thought of cutting fresh flowers, of waking to just listen to the sunrise, of waiting for the last robin to sing then to retire, this is and should be summer.

    ENJOY EVERY moment as I am doing. June is leaving us, but we are going to make these days stretch even MORE, aren't we!

    Happy Friday, Anita

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    1. Hi Anita Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad it's only June. This is our second month of summer weather and so we are going to have a long summer and I am rejoicing over that!

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  7. oh ronda! it's just beautiful. so cheering and warm with the weathered wood shingles and deck. like a silent friend greeting you every time you see it.
    i could spend many happy hours there... listening to the last bird's song.

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    1. Tammy You are so sweet and generous with your words. I wish you were closer...and we could have a visit out on the deck.

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  8. Ronda, I love the red. What a beautiful picture your words have painted of your day. I too love these long days. xo Laura

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  9. Thank you Laura and thank you for coming by. I hope you are having a beautiful summer.

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  10. I came over from Flowerlady to say hi. Your use of red which complements the green of the forest works very well.

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    1. Thank you Terra and thank you for your visit.

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  11. Thank you for answering my question. :-)
    I love the red. It is beautiful.
    xx oo
    Carla

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  12. Thank you Carla. It was a great idea for a post.

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  13. Oh! I love your red door Ronda! Your deck looks just amazing, and the splash of red really just seals the deal! We too are enjoying a long summer that is stretching on, although we are having intense heat, and now wildfires here. :( I love your writing, as your thoughts are so poetic, and create such beautiful images! The sun starts to rise her around 3:30 in the morning, and there is still plenty of daylight at 9:45... so we are enjoying it while we can, because we know that we have reached the "tipping point" and are headed back down the big curve! Enjoy every moment of sunshine my friend! :)

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    1. Thank you! It's amazing what the right colour of paint can do. Under the red is a cool, tinted gray primer. While I let the primer dry I had a good look at it and I felt that while it looked painted that colour felt very cold. Yet, on the exterior of my kitchen window where I also put it it looked very good. So I left it on the kitchen window and will get some similar paint in the future. It's very important to take in account the surrounding factors which my picture does not convey when deciding on paint colours. The long days are beautiful!

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