I’ve decided that miniature pink carnations are my new favorite flower. This hardy $3 bunch is almost two weeks old.� I am enchanted by their determination. The fact they look so cute en masse and fragrance a room nicely is extra.
Of course I researched the history of carnations once I decided to profess my intentions. It sounds odd, but that’s how I am about things that capture my interest.� I am so glad I did.
Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical significance. According to a Christian legend, carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus’ plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus the pink carnation became the symbol of a mother’s undying love. [source]
{Sniffle.}� Oh, Google.� I adore you.
Here are a few more things I am currently loving:
- My Blog. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, I’ve come to love being in this space.� I want to make it better and find myself reading everything there is on what makes a blog great.� Most of it doesn’t pertain to me, but it’s still interesting.
- My Camera. I’m finally getting the hang of it, I think.� Editing is getting easier, too, and programs like Photo Shop don’t sound as intimidating anymore. I’m not running out the door to buy new software, but maybe one day.
- My Online Friends. I have met so many people through blogging (as a writer and a visitor) who have changed my life–if you can believe it.� Many of you have been so kind with the emails and comments, and I feel like anything I say in return isn’t enough to thank you for how generous you have been with your time while I wax on about family and home.� You’ve given me the confidence to write more, and not just as a creative pursuit. I have been tossing around the idea of writing for small businesses again.� We’ll see.
Touché! (I hope that displays correctly…if not it is supposed to be “touche”). I am also one to research the background/history of my current interest. I am a lover of information. While I only started my own blog in August and I don’t have many (if any) regular readers, I also love the blogosphere!
I have to say the modern florists have done a good job revamping the image and stigma of the carnation. I remember 11 years ago when planning my wedding stomping my feet and screaming “I don’t want to see one carnation or gladiolus at my wedding!”. I still feel the same way about glads, but carnations are slowly growing on me. It’s funny you should mention your blog as well, because is it just me, but have you been posting more lately? it’s nice, believe me, and lately I’ve enjoyed the posts tremendously. The most since I found your blog 6-8 months ago. Keep it up!
1. Carnations are my current favorite too! I bought a bunch at the grocery store back in February and they lasted almost a month. I told my husband I would be 100% with getting carnations (in happy colors) for flowers from now on.
2. PhotoShop is the beast I’ve been tackling for the last couple of years and I finally feel like I kind of understand it. My husband is a web designer so I have the full on PhotoShop and I think I would have liked starting with Elements first.
I just bought some pink carnations at Kroger yesterday. They have small 3/$6 bunches and even a $2 small bunch made a little arrangement for my desk at work and a slightly bigger (but still small) one that I just blogged about myself. :) They’re lovely!
So glad you are loving your blog, because we love reading it. :)
Yay for carnation love! :) Andrea, I used to hate them, too. I always associated them with “Flower Day” in high school. Did you all have something like that? It was a class fundraiser. Several times a year they had days where you could buy someone (anonymously or not) a carnation with a card attached. All the girls vied to see who received the most carnations. Anyway, these miniature ones have grown on me.
As for blogging more, YES, I have. I was wondering if anyone noticed and if maybe it was too much for some people. I was just talking about this the other day with another blogger and how sometimes less is more. Lately I’ve been chucking that rule out the window. There are days where I have so much to say about everyday life that I could post twice in one day. I contain myself, obviously. There are many things to which I can credit the change in attitude regarding blogging, but most of the credit goes to the Blogging Your Way course by Holly Becker and Leslie of A Creative Mint I took this past winter. I highly recommend it, and suspect it will only get better with each session they hold.
I’m so glad that you are loving blogging because then I get to keep reading it! ;)
And you have featured my favorite flower. . except I like the giant ones. My grandmother, who died when I was 13, used to grow them outside of her kitchen window. The fragrance is still so vivid in my mind along with the texture of the flower buds I used to feel. I am attempting to grow some from seeds this year. :)
I love reading your blog – so you should definitely consider writing for small biz – you’ve got the gift for writing :)!!
Oh gorgeous! I love the mini ones too. And I’m so glad you are learning your camera and falling in love with it. That is so awesome.
I just started to read your blog (two weeks ago) and you SHOULD love it, it’s on my daily read list now. I like the IE take since I’m in the OC. I’m with you on the carnations too. I’ve always loved the spicy smell and they are such a cheerful flower.
Jules — I’m typically into blogs with pictures: crafting and decorating blogs. But I came upon yours on Making it Lovely, and in a rare moment, actually took the time to READ.
I’m hooked. Your stories and writing voice just delight me. And your photos are impressive! Some people get all the talent. I love the perspective you think to capture behind the lens… the toy under the bedspread is my favorite.
So in the spirit of a virtual thumbs up, here’s another hooked subscriber!
Carnations are my favorite flowers – for the very same reason! My husband knows that I always appreciate carnations more than roses because roses are such a temporary beauty…while carnations stick it out and can be enjoyed for far longer! Yours are so pretty! :)
I love your blog, and I can relate to many of the 4 things that you are now loving! I’m a relatively new blogger (June 2009), and how exciting is it to have people come to your “little piece of the world” and enjoy it!? It makes me giddy to know my hard effort is not in vain. :o)
I want to start taking great photos, but have no clue as to what kind of professional camera to buy. I currently have a simple Kodak share, and it’s ok – but want to upgrade. I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, maybe just an arm. :o) Can I ask what kind you use? Are you self taught or did you take a photgraphy class?
Love your blog – to your success!
These are great things to love!
So glad that you are not taking the “less is more” approach to your blog. To me, you could post a dozen times a day and I’d still read you as avidly.
Your words, photos and life truly inspire people out there, I’m one them! So thank you for sharing your gift with us. I totally believe you should take your passion to the next level and have your own business.
Keep it up Jules!
Please keep posting every day (or more than once a day)- everything you write just rocks my socks!
Yes!! I love that you’re blogging more. I check P&FF first thing every morning. Work can wait until I’m done blog reading. :)
I just love mini carnations in a big bunch together. They’re almost like little petticoats.
They�re almost like little petticoats.
Awesome.
Ronique–I use a Nikon D60 since December of last year. Before that I used a Fuji point and shoot that cost no more than $120. I took one photography class in college 16 years ago, long before the digital revolution. I loved working in the dark room. I know it sounds weird, but I even loved the smell of the processing chemicals. That said, anytime the professor talked about the technicalities of photography (aperture, f-stop, etc.) I became hopelessly lost. I just didn’t get it! I shot everything in auto and hoped for the best.
It’s been 16 years. I think I am ready to give it a go again, maybe take a class at a community college, and see if I can teach myself how to use my camera in manual mode.
That is so neat about the carnation. I had no idea!
I really like carnations en mass like you mentioned. In fact in my office they are my go-to fresh flowers since fresh flowers really make any day a bit better. Now I like them even more!
I have one word for you Jules … novel.
Write one, please?
Sure! I’d love to. :) I just haven’t formed enough of a story in my mind. It’s there, somewhat, but it’s like an object trapped in a bottle with a small opening. I keep trying to tap it out, but so far no luck. I recently read somewhere that having nothing to write about shouldn’t matter. Just start writing, and everything will evolve from there. So, what would you like me to write about?
I really enjoy reading Pancakes and French Fries Jules and love that you listed 4 good things. Your blog always makes me smile, giggle or guffaw, so its nice to hear you are enjoying it! I’d like to start my own blog but feel nervous after reading your fabulousness here and others like Kim at Daisy Cottage oh yeah and Ree at Pioneer Woman. I guess maybe my blog could be called Chicken Chic…
Pioneer woman has a whole section on photography and photoshop ideas, have you checked it out? And Jessica Sprague has online editing classes and I think even a photography class too.
I have a point and shoot digital camera and am truly intimidated by DSLR’s. I finally got the hang of all the settings on p+s, why would I want to complicate my life further. (Ah yes, I see the lame excuses fairy visited me in my sleep last night!)
Anyhoo, fresh flowers that last a long time are fabulous! I have been buying tulips at my grocery store and they are gorgeous and last 7 to 10 days. I also like to pick wild flowers when I take my dog for a walk. It seems year after year I pick the flower, look up the flower, forget its name, repeat. Still love the flowers even if I can’t remember their names.
Always like to hear what you are up to,
Donna
Oh great. Way to make me feel completely guilty for despising carnations. They’ve always either reminded me of 1) cheap boyfriends; or 2) funerals. Now that I know the symbolism, I’ll be going about apologizing to each wee carnation I’ve thought ill of … sigh.
And yeah for photos … and blogs … and writing more!
They’ve always reminded me of funerals, too! That’s why I like the mini ones. No death.
You should write about your passions on your novel. Things you love, such as your children, your family. Well not about them exactly, but something related to that subject, maybe?
You need to write a novel about being a mom. The truth … all the stuff they never tell you about. You know what I mean, all the things you’ve experienced you never thought you would. Such as .. a runaway stroller or something. I’m not pointing fingers or anything. Or the things you say you never imagined would come out of your mouth. For example “Addison get your finger out of your butt crack, it’s not a thermometer.”
Yah. That’s it.
Either that or a red hot, trashy romance novel.