“The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy.”
My writer’s brain (and heart) needs a break because one, it needs time to reflect after a trip back home for a family funeral last week. And two, my little writer’s hands are going to be laden with paint for the next week. Annie Sloan chalk paint that is! I’ll be busy happily refinishing and transforming six windsor chairs from black to a gorgeous greige. I think it’s sometimes good to step back from intense writing (or other life scenarios) to gain a better perspective. To just breathe and be. No guilt. Ernest Hemingway, one of my all time favorite writers, practiced this often. When he was hot, really hot, (which I SO think he was) I digress…he would walk away from a good write for a few weeks or so to gain a fresh set of eyes and ears.
The hubby had business in Williamsburg a few weeks ago. So being the enterprising lady that I am, I hopped aboard his magical carpet ride and after an hours drive I was dropped off in majestic downtown Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
As I walked through the delightful flower gardens, snapping away – gazing upon one exquisitely choreographed bed after another: the flowers were my only language. They spoke for me. Through me. To the heart of my gardening loving soul.
It’s my wish for you that the beautiful flowers will serve as your language of inspiration for whatever you are working on or endeavoring to work through.
And so I offer a brief respite of the botanical kind. Please take a break and walk through the gardens of Colonial Williamsburg. Let its beauty spark your creative muse or calm your restless soul. I hope this brightens and somewhat lightens whatever is happening in your corner of the world. And as always – Be Well.
“Where flowers bloom so does hope.” Lady Bird Johnson
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” Henri Matisse
“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep their light.” Theodore Roethke
“The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.” Matsuo Basho
“Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.” Mao Zedong
“Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.” Walt Whitman
karen draper ~ writer 
Oh I do love these quotes 🙂 So Pretty!
Thank you kindly, Morgan! Love and light! ~Karen~
I grew up in Virginia and one of my favorite places to visit was Colonial Williamsburg. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos.
Thanks, Jill! I agree, – other than an exotic beach destination, I always feel removed from the real world in Colonial Williamsburg. 🙂 ~Karen~
Beautiful! 🙂
Thanks, Lynette! ❤ ~Karen~
Beautiful pictures. I love Williamsburg! Two of my brothers went to William and Mary so I spent a lot of time there in my teens. We go whenever we can now. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! 🙂
You are most welcome! It truly is my happy place! Thanks for stopping by! Be Well. 🙂 ~Karen~
Beautiful …. Flowers bring us gifts through out all our lives, and you have presented them here wonderfully with added quotes..
I always think Flowers give their lives to us so that we may enjoy them, when ever I see a picked flower its life is already ended, but its bloom brings us so much joy in our celebrations of life .. The come at our Birth, our Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, to cheer us if we are sick, or just to say sorry… They come with Love and celebrate so many things with us and are ever present even when its our time to pass, they surround us with their joy…
I so love potted plants, and Spring flowers especially after a long hard winter, bring colour and joy..
Loved this post as you can tell… Have a lovely weekend
Sue xox
Thanks so much, Sue! I’m thrilled that my post brought you such joy…that was my intention! You are so right, flowers are always “there” for us. They have an energy force like that of a truly enlightened person. The person who always sees a lesson no matter what. Thanks for sharing such eloquent thoughts that served as delicious food for thought today! Be well. ❤ ~Karen~
This post of yours is amazingly timely for me, personally. I’m going to take a complete – though short – break from blogging, starting in a couple of weeks; and it’s something I must do in order to get writing again. The flowers are lovely, and I thank you for them, Karen !
Thank you so much! I’m delighted you enjoyed the flowers! It was interesting to hear that you will be taking a break from blogging in order to write…This is something that I’ve been wrestling with for awhile now. Whether to blog, how often, or at all. As I enjoy it, it’s taken time away from my memoir.
I’d love to hear about what you’re working on. Signed Confused and Frustrated! 🙂 ~Karen~
Karen ! – if you’ve ever visited my blog, you can’t get away from it !!! 🙂
Sometimes you have to live your life and walking around these beautiful flowers is living.
I couldn’t agree more, Irene. It’s cliche but sometimes we really do have to STOP and smell the roses and not forget to use all our senses when experiencing this life we live. 🙂 ~Karen~
🙂
The pairings of quotations with the charming gardens, was a great ‘respite’ and ‘walk’ after a day at work. Yesterday, it went on and on, from 7 .am. until 6 p.m. when I clocked out, I did not have any time to wander through your gardens, just had pushed like at some time or other!
Hope you are enjoying painting your chairs and so glad you had a chance to take these photographs to share with us! Smiles, Robin
I have to ask you, Karen, what color is greige? Just not sure if I am reading this post about your painting chairs, correctly! I love to picture what you are doing, hoping that it is finally close to being a ‘home’ with boxes soon to be unpacked! Smiles, Robin
LOL, Robin! Greige is a combination of gray & beige. I’m intrigued by he subtle, relaxing tone of it. We’re 6 – 8 weeks out…it’s been very frustrating, but a fixable life problem. (We try to always keep that foremost in our minds). Grateful for what we have. Hugs. ~Karen~
Wow, Robin…what a long day! I’m so glad that my photos provided a much needed respite – you certainly deserve it and more. xo ~Karen~