#The first in a Colour Series
“I’m in a blue mood.” “Singing the blues.” Blue as a colour gets a tough time, perhaps only surpassed by puce. (Black is at least considered to be cool, in a good way.) Blue is supposedly a cold, depressing colour.
But in nature, blue is an exuberant, joyful colour. What can be happier, more celebratory, than a brilliant blue sky after days of rain or gloomy mist?. What lifts the heart more than a blue sky in the midst of winter, bringing the promise of warmer things to come, or a summer blue sky singing the joy of warmth and freedom? What is more relaxing than the beautiful, azure blue of a tropical sea, clear water on a white sand, with darker blue, deeper water further out? The mere sight of such water induces in me a deep yearning, a sigh of bliss remembered and anticipated all at the same time.
The bright blue of a parking sign brings cheer to a tired motorist, or the blue street sign in Bangkok shows the way for a foot-weary tourist. The blue of a Microsoft screen cheers us that the computer is at least still working and blue cheese tempts us to ignore the dangers of cholesterol and close our eyes and taste the lusciousness of a creamy gorgonzola or the tang of a Stilton. Photographs of blue roofs on white-washed houses in Santorini remind me that a trip to Greece is well overdue. Blue stained glass windows by Chagall in the Reims Cathedral caused me to stop, to look, to love. Blue and white china brings memories of wonderful Thai meals, or high teas, of trips to Delft or Taiwan’s Royal Palace Museum. Navy blue and white stripes bring images of sailors, freedom on the open seas, wind in the hair and no work to be done. A blue glass cat from Bristol reminds me of the visit of Julie and Nick, the day of the World Premiere of the Return of the King in Wellington, the happiness of the crowds thronging to see the stars, the Sauvignon Blanc on the deck afterwards, camaraderie and joy in new friends.
Blue flowers stand up, saying “look at me, I’m different” and wave in the breeze, or peek through green leaves, brightly blue so as not to be missed or hidden amidst the common-as-mud pink, red and orange flowers that surround them. They are not shy and depressed, they are bold and beautiful and blue. Blue borders my driveway, inviting friends and families in.
I feel so lucky to have made time to read blog posts this morning! Wonderful!
I in fact love blue. And the blues (as an art form—not so into getting them myself).
Bright blue skies right now, in winter, are beautiful, especially against the bright white snow, and the sun helps us get through, but often, despite the promise of warmth to come, blue skies mean that the blanketing warmth of cloud cover is gone and that it’s going to be a cold one.
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I love blue! And I read somewhere that cobalt blue is the one color that looks good on everyone, no matter their age, gender or skin color.
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it being the bleak midwinter here (but not enough to enjoy like our Vermonter), i’m struggling with the blues, and not listening to much Delta music. but this brings a floral note that i think i will refocus on …
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I am not a fan of blue but this post may change my mind.
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I love this post. It’s a lovely blue sky out here this morning too, a bit unseasonal for January!
I gave you a blog award thingy too – it’s on my blog!
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