Blue Monday

For today's Blue Monday post I am sharing some of my favorite blue-related words.  I think we can all remember learning some of these words from our crayola box when we were kids...

My favorite was always "cerulean"- the color used to describe the blue sky on a clear bright day.  Other sky blue words include "azure" or "cyaneous".  "Cyaneous" also has a more sinister origin from the poison cyanide, which is found in the seeds and pits of apples, mangos and peaches.  Cyanide was also a compound found in paint used in old paintings called "Prussian Blue" (which used to be a blue in older Crayola crayon boxes) and is used for the making of blueprints.

Other blue words are derived from gems or minerals such as "aquamarine", "lapis lazuli, "sapphire" or "turquoise".

Then there is the colder hues of blue consisting of "steel blue", "cobalt" or "chalybeous".  Or even "cesious" for blue-grey.

"Royal Blue" is the color traditionally used to symbolize royalty.  And "ecchymotic" is the color used to describe the color of broken blood vessels in a bruise ("black and blue").

"Mazarine" is a dark blue originating from the Mazarine Blue butterfly and "Cornflower blue" (also in the Crayola box) is rather obvious:

 Picture courtesy of ptc24

But I have to say, my favorite has always been "Robin's Egg Blue" (also in the Crayola box)...

Picture courtesy of PleasantPointInn

Blue Monday

Photo courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt

Today's Blue Monday post was inspired by a discussion with my friend Carrie.  I grew up in Michigan and spent many a childhood summer day picking blueberries.  I have always loved them- and we Michiganders can be quite the blueberry snobs.  But back to my friend Carrie.  She also grew up in Michigan and has since moved to New Mexico.  During our discussion, she made the bold statement that Texas blueberries are better.  Now- I have never had a Texas blueberry- and I will keep it as an open challenge- but for now- Michigan blueberries get my vote! 

My grandmother used to make a blueberry dessert (we actually call it "Blueberry Dessert"- not very creative, huh?) that was my favorite thing in the summer.  It consisted of a graham-crackery crust with sugar and blueberries with whipped cream on top.  Sometimes the simplest things are the best!!  And don't get me going on blueberry pancakes...

  picture courtesy of Cherrylet

                          

Guest Artist- Mark VanHoutum

For today's post, I am sharing some photos my friend Mark took on his travels.  I find his photographs amazing and inspiring with an exceptional eye for detail and subject matter. 

Netherlands

I find this picture especially amazing- since it was taken through the keyhole leading to an area in St. Peter's Cathedral not accessible to the public.   

Moon Over Rural France

Netherlands

Blue Monday

Today is Blue Monday (where we celebrate the color BLUE)...

I have always been fascinated by the color "haint blue" which is seen mostly in the South painted on porch ceilings, doors, window frames and shudders.

The custom appears to have originated with slaves who believed that the color was a talisman against "haints" or "haunts"- mainly because it was the color of water and haints cannot cross water.  They would apparently dig a hole in the ground and mix lime, milk, and whatever pigments they could find and paint the mixture around every opening into their homes. The haints, thinking it was water, are tricked into thinking they can’t enter.

"Haint Blue" isn't one specific color. It can vary from a pale pale light blue to a more deep turquoise or teal color. As long as it is on a porch ceiling or around a door or window, it can be considered  Haint Blue.
 
 
 



There is also some folklore that says painting a porch ceiling haint blue keeps insects (wasps and such) from building their nests.  Although this has not been scientifically proven, many in the South believe this.  One theory is that the old mixtures, which usually contained lime, was a deterent for the insects.  
 

 
That's it for Blue Monday.  As always- if you come across something inspiringly blue- send it my way.

New dolls (under construction)

Inspiration board

One of the ways that I remain inspired is by posting pictures to my "inspiration board"- 3 large corkboard panels I have hanging in my hallway. I know it sounds a bit corny (and yes- I do believe I got the idea from Oprah) but it is a great place for me to post things that inspire me.  It also serves to keep me connected to what is important.

The board has pictures of friends and family and magazine photos that I love, art postcards I have found at coffee shops, pictures that reflect a certain mood or pictures of interiors for my "lottery house" (wish me luck!) that I have been designing for years. I used to have stacks of photo albums full of these pictures, but I found I looked at them intermittently, which wasn't quite meeting my daily needs. So now I walk by these pictures daily.  I sometimes stop and look early in the morning before my day has begun and I always find something new and interesting to keep me thinking (positively) throughout the day.  And I have to admit- I am always amused when I have parties to see people, drinks in hand, lined up in the hallway looking at it.

(Red, White &) Blue Monday

Happy birthday, America! For today's Blue Monday (where we pay tribute to the color blue) we are going a bit off the rails by celebrating the ole' red, white and BLUE! 

First off are these great pillows of Americana made by VintageHome. 

And- as happens more often than not, one of my favorites is usually a food item.  It has been a bit hot here in the Midwest, so I started thinking of another childhood favorite- the Rocket Pop.  I clearly remember as a kid being in such despair and conflict over choosing between the roller coaster or or my half-finished rocket pop...

photo courtesy of

A happy 4th of July to you all!