Friday, June 26, 2009

Finding Joy and Thanks in little things....

Morning Glories are one of my favorite flowers. I started growing them every year from seeds about 8 yrs ago when we lived in Poquoson, VA. Even though they are considered annuals, mine would come back every year! They covered the entire trellis with lovely blue flowers, facing the morning sun, shrinking away quickly if rain was approaching...

This year, much to my dismay, all of the seeds that I started indoors got moldy and didn't survive. It happenend to my neighbor's starter plants, too. We don't know why! I was so sad at the thought of no Morning Glories to say hi to every day.

Then about a week ago I noticed a few lonely leaves popping up from the planter. Soon, it became a vine...and it crawled ever so quickly up the trellis towards the sun! Oh yes! A morning glory vine came back!

Now, as if that wasn't cause enough for a celebration, the flowers were not the pretty blue I always planted...but a deep purple with a fuscia star in the middle!!! That color NEVER grew for me! The blues always took over!

Now I am enjoying these gorgeous flowers every morning...

My point is, and I do have one, is that this morning glory seems to be a metaphor for many things in my life. Cultivating a relationship with my husband, friends, and neighbors, raising my children, building my art business on-line...the results aren't always immediate, or even what I planned, but sometimes, a seed that I planted long ago suddenly begins to thrive.

My hope is that you are finding surprising and joyful moments in the things you are cultivating your life. The rewards may not always come quickly, or even be the results you planned, but you never know what seeds of potential you planted log ago may suddenly begin to grow.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Time to myself today...time to experiment and paint!

Great idea...I've been thinking about twittering about a "Gratitude" list.

Robin Pedrero said...

Your post is inspirational. I just returned from NYC, an impromptu detour, and found myself on the film set of "Morning Glory"...

pegi said...

Wow! Very inspirational....I think alot of us were a little overwhelmed yesterday by all the saddness.My daughters cat died in her arms and she and her husband were broken about it. So holding my own emotions in check, I went to work and then F.F. died and I was rooting for her to survive and then M.J.! Just a numbing kind of day. But, it makes me apprecite everyone in my life so much more, and the little special things,like your Morning Glories. They're lovely!
I do have a question for you? Could you give a little advice on what type of light bulbs are used to illuminate the models you draw? When I did black and white high contrast photography, I used regular everyday light bulbs in reflector lights.i was able to develop the film as I liked to get the ideal results. But, this wouldnt be the case in live work, would it? You've been doing this a while and I'd love to hear your ideas.
And, I thank you in advance!!

Laura Mercurio Ebohon said...

So true Kristina! I started writing when I was 16, on pieces of random paper, school books, birthday cards and block notes. I did not even know I was planting seeds, I was just following my heart responding to the impulse of describing in words my inner life. And after 20 years almost I find myself still writing...
The most rewarding time of my writing is when I write to my son, he is only 5 and cannot read yet but one day later in life, he will find those notes, phrases and episodes, with funny, joyful, happy moments of his childhood and I know he will smile...

Krystyna81 said...

Hi Pegi...

Hugs to you and your family! losing a dear pet is so hard.

I have not done a lot of photography of the live model, just rare snapshots to document a pose for reference. But I will look around and see what I can find!

Krystyna81 said...

Laura,

I love the thought of leaving a legacy for our children - hopefully inspiring them to pursue their dreams and follow their hearts!

Krystyna81 said...

Cindy and Robin - thank you for sharing your happy thoughts :)

pegi said...

The lighting you use during your art sessions (non photographic)now is what I meant. Sorry. I guess I didn't word it well.
I find it fascinating that you can do black charcoal life drawings and use the same light to inspire the AMAZING color work you do! Are the same light bulbs used? For both? And those are the types of bulbs I'm interested in. Take your time, there really is no hurry. I'm still organizing my space. What Fun!!