5.31.2010

on peonies, storms and freedom

peonies {two}
i was not sure if i would blog today, but it's raining outside, and i processed some photos last night, so i thought, "oh, why not?"

i wish i had something poignant and moving to say on this memorial day. but i do not. i only have simple thoughts... simply that i am grateful for the freedoms i enjoy, which so many men and women have fought for, died for and protected. and i don't want this day to pass without expressing that gratitude.

we have had the most amazing weather here for three days. today started out nice, but in rolled the clouds, and now i hear thunder. it's actually a bit comforting. i'm a sunshine and blue sky kind of girl! but today, for some reason, the distant thunder, dark clouds, soft rain, and that wonderful summer-rain smell are giving me a sense of peace.

thunder? peace? i know... two words you would not expect to see together. it's been a very reflective weekend. not much going on here. just a lot of time to think. {worry, too.} trying not to worry about money. thinking a lot about possibly relocating to another state. worrying about how in the world that could happen. there are only five-hundred+ question marks that go along with that possibility. i keep going back and forth between two major thoughts these last few days. one: how will we make it? {in regards to staying here and being unemployed.} two: how will we make it happen? {in regards to picking up and moving to another state should this job opportunity pan out.}

perhaps the reason the stormy weather outside gives me comfort is because i know that, much like the storms of life, it will pass and the grass will be even greener as a result.

so i sit. and i wait. because there is nothing i can do about all that right now.

anyway, i'll write more on that later. today, i'm just in summer mode. it's not officially summer yet. but memorial day always feels like the beginning of summer to me. and so do peonies.

peonies {three}

peonies also make me think of vintage goodness. i don't know why. maybe i have a faint, tucked-away memory of peonies in an old milk glass vase at my grandmother's house. or maybe it's because they are often used in the many old vintage postcards that i thumb through at antique stores.


peonies {one}

whatever the reason, i thought i would sort of antique my recent peony photos {except for this last macro shot } to go with how i see them. peonies are one of my favorite flowers for sure. i hope you enjoy... and i hope you all had a beautiful weekend so far, and that today will be that and more.

15 comments:

chasity said...

gorgeous gorgeous photos today.

sending warm thoughts your way....
may you find peace and blessings very soon.

georgia b. said...

thank you, chasity.

S. Etole said...

peonies and grandmothers go together here, too ... the Lord will direct your steps ... hope your week-end goes well

Jenny said...

These are beautiful. Of all the photos I take I think the flowers lift me up the most, so pure. Where/how do you get your vintage look, if you can share?

Jenny said...

Follow your heart, trust in God.

georgia b. said...

thank you, susan. i truly believe He will.

thank you, jenny. i would be happy to share how i got my vintage look. i found a free texture on flickr... it's a "through the view finder" type frame/texture. i can't quite remember which flickr member i got it from... and really, i should be giving them credit, so that is my bad.

anyway, i added the texture twice as a new layer and set both textures to "overlay" in photoshop. then i played with the opacity on each until i got something i liked. i also added a solid fill layer and made it "soft light" in photoshop. if you want more specifics, e-mail me, and i will walk you through it. do you have photoshop?

Meri said...

Very nice antiquing job with the peonies. I love them too and should post some of the gorgeous ones I brought home last week. They have an old-fashioned frilliness that just says "girlie" to me.

Sueann said...

Simply beautiful! And the colors are amazing!!
Good luck on the waiting and seeing..I really suck at waiting. I want to know now and do something about it.
Try to enjoy the holiday and relax.
Hugs
SueAnn

Anonymous said...

The peonies are lovely. Good luck to you as you sort through your options.

mrs mediocrity said...

these are wonderful, the photos and your thoughts, not really so simple at all...peonies are one of my favorites and mark the summer for me, too, but this year they have come and gone so quickly, in this heat...
and things will work out, the way they are supposed to work out.

Steve Gravano said...

I toured summerhouses a few years back, and one was on its own island. It has no electric, water and gas were brought in by boat. It was an A frame style with one large room. There were large windows looking out onto the Great South Bay, and hammocks hanging everywhere. The view was great. The owner commented that the best views were during an electrical storm. She said the sky becomes a shade of blue hard to describe during a lightning storm, and that it was actually peaceful. I hope you fine peace.

georgia b. said...

thanks, everyone.

Michel said...

wow I just love that first shot. and now I love peonies!! beautiful

Beverly said...

these are such beautiful photos!

georgia b. said...

thank you, beverly.