This is the only song off the top of my head that talks about colors. Strange. I know there must be more.....

Chorus:

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your True Colors
True Colors are beautiful
Like a Rainbow

Works for me!!!!

Part two of my color post talks about how one applies such color to ones living space. And I am using me as an example here…. There are just so many wonderful colors out there!!! In some ways it’s overwhelming. And I would love to hear what others out there have done to make color a part of their happy homes, if ya care to share.


So, there we were next door looking at paint colors Tuesday night. I can never get just the right shades. If I find one color that I am happy with, then I can't seem to find the right shade and tone and hue for the next room and so forth. It's frustrating! Like most people, home is, well…. HOME: where you can relax, where you can find shelter from the outside world, where you can let your guards down and recharge your batteries. Home should feel good. It should be warm and inviting and welcoming. You should look forward towards going home.

One of the things I think about when planning what goes on within my sanctuary and such is the language that colors. After reading all about the meanings and colors and sentiments behind them… No pressure there or anything……

But we got through it. The main areas are done. For the most part, I like what we decided upon. Mom C helped us a lot as she just has an awesome knack at finding colors that compliment each other. Plus, I will admit, it was partly a test (very mean, I know) to see her reaction at us starting to change the place. I also wanted her to be able to come in and see colors that she liked because I really do want her to feel comfortable when she comes into “our” house. She didn’t seem to have any problem talking about colors and all. When we talked about actually moving in, she appeared extremely closed off though. Understandable, and yet, at the same time I don’t want her to feel any regrets once enough time has passed that she perceives us as an invasion rather than a help. On a good note, Tuesday Honey seemed okay. (yay!)

And then I got home and when thinking of them started to pray that with the colors we chose, it would go with our furniture and paintings and all. Yes, I worry needlessly. I know. Someday I hope to break the habit, but unfortunately, I haven’t found a way yet. Anyway….., the kitchen and dining area are opposite sides of the living room. This is going to be our main living space so I really wanted to make sure that this flowed easily together. The living room is on the east side of the house and the kitchen in the west. Oh, did I forget to mention that sunlight and how it plays throughout the day in the house also makes a huge different to me??? Yup. It really does.


So where is the first place you usually go when you first get up in the morning. NO… not the bathroom! (okay, yes, bathroom.. but AFTER that) Usually it’s the kitchen. And where the sun won’t be hitting there first thing in the morning, I wanted it bright and cheerful. We ended up choosing Bicycle Yellow! It should certainly live up to its name and help get us moving in the morning! That’s the one color that I am a little nervous about. (Figures because that’s the starting color for the WHOLE design!!!!) However, I am taking this opportunity to break out of my softer, tamer colors to try something new. So, bicycle yellow does scare me a little. Oh, that and the accent wall in the dining room with its Glorious Gold. Yeah…. That, too, was not my color choice. But it’s gonna work. I’m pretty sure… I think. I am definitely trusting Mom C on this one. It’s got that orangey yellow hue. It does work VERY well with some of the pottery we have that I love. I just hope I LOVE it on the wall! But if we went with the Language of colors from yesterday, that orangey color is a great for social situations and you can’t get much more social by sitting down to a meal together! So, there’s that.

I knew I wanted green for the living room. I knew I wanted the harmony and thoughts of life and renewal and warmth that green brings. The kitchen counters and the hutch that is going on our “golden” kitchen wall is also a green so hopefully it will help tie the rooms together a little. The green, called Scotland Road, it is sort of a sagey blue tinted green. It’s a little dark than what I go for, but a) with the sun in there in the morning I think it will look really nice and b) well… the name just sold me…. On the back wall, where our computer and craft tables will be set up, there’s another accent wall (apparently my family really likes those!) of dark Island Palm green.

It was so funny watching the girls choose their wall colors. Each of the girls will have their bed up against their colored wall. Within 5 minutes of looking at all the colors… BAMMM….. Done, finished, all set. Pumpkin wants orange, Monkey wants pink and Parrot a really soft creamy yellow.

The last things we have to figure out is our bedroom color and bath. And to me, our bedroom color is WAY important!!! We are going to have all white trim in there with the exception of the window casing and base boards. Plus, I have two paintings that I want to go in there. This is one:


This is Greg Hildebrandt’s Angel of the Gods. This signed print was hanging up in a comic book store for over 11 years and NO one ever bought it! It drove me crazy because I like a lot of the Hildebrandt Brothers’ art work. Honey bought it for me for my birthday this year so it obviously holds a very special meaning to me. He told me that for 11 years he had wanted to get it for me!!! Okay, enough sentiment. Except that the other is a watercolor that he bought for me on our honeymoon of a stone moongate…..(sigh!!!) I have a really pretty blue called Approaching Dusk that would somewhat go with both prints or a brown called Copper Pot that would go really well with one, not so much the other.

And I have NO idea for the bathroom. I would rather not have plain old white walls. That would be so bleak when the rest of the house is so colorful. I was joking with Honey and told him I would paint it purple to match him “being on the throne”. Tee hee. He wasn’t amused with purple though. No yellow, no green, no orange or blue, I don’t like pink bathrooms, Honey says no purple. I don’t see red working either. (Mom C, my mom and my grandmother would definitely have a LOT to say if it were red, and I just don't want to deal with that!) Well, maybe green. Or maybe a soft peachy color?

Decisions, Decisions!!!!
Cheers! ~MacKenzie

Have you ever really thought about colors and the role they play in our lives, how they consciously and unconsciously affect us?  Color can speak volumes about your personal style, without you saying a word. And while color is highly personal, connecting directly with individual memories and emotions, it’s also universal, and can produce moods, feelings and sensations that almost everyone recognizes. (taken from Behr paints) 

 
Each color has a unique language and meaning:

RED:  Love and War: Red is hot. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. A stimulant, red is the hottest of the warm colors.   Studies show that red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. Red is power, hence the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs.  Use the color red to grab attention and to get people to take action. Use red when you don't want to sink into the background. Use red to suggest speed combined with confidence and perhaps even a dash of danger. A little bit of red goes a long way. Small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this strong color. Multiple shades of red and even pink or orange can combine for a cheerful palette.  A few Red Phrases:  red letter day, rolling out the red carpet, seeing red, in the red

 
ORANGE:  Flamboyant and Energetic : Orange is vibrant. It's a combination of red and yellow so it shares some common attributes with those colors. It denotes energy, warmth, and the sun. But orange has a bit less intensity or aggression than red, calmed by the cheerfulness of yellow.  Orange is a stimulant — stimulating the emotions and even the appetite. Because orange is also a citrus color, it can conjure up thoughts of vitamin C and good health.  If you want to get noticed without screaming, consider the color orange — it demands attention. The softer oranges such as peach are even friendlier, more soothing. Peachy oranges are less flamboyant than their redder cousins but still energetic.  Orange is mentally stimulating as well as sociable. Use it to get people thinking or to get them talking.

YELLOW:  Hope and Happiness: Yellow is sunshine. It is a warm color that, like red, has conflicting symbolism. On the one hand it denotes happiness and joy but on the other hand yellow is the color of cowardice and deceit.  Yellow is one of the warm colors. Because of the high visibility of bright yellow, it is often used for hazard signs and some emergency vehicles. Yellow is cheerful.  For years yellow ribbons were worn as a sign of hope as women waited from their men to come marching home from war. Today, they are still used to welcome home loved ones. If someone is yellow it means they are a coward so yellow can have a negative meaning in some cultures. Yellow often works best as a companion to other colors. Use bright yellow to create excitement when red or orange may be too strong or too dark. Yellow can be perky.  A few yellow phrases:  yellow-bellied, mellow yellow

 
GREEN:  Life and Renewal: Green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. On the flip side, green is jealousy or envy (green-eyed monster) and inexperience. Green is a restful color with some of the same calming attributes of blue. Like blue, time moves faster in a green room.  Because of all the green in nature, the color is reminiscent of Spring. With both a warming and cooling effect, the color green denotes balance, harmony, and stability. Use several shades of green for a fresh, Springtime feel. Olive green, also called olive drab, is a not so drab summery green that may have military overtones for some people.  A few green phrases: green thumb, green light, greener pastures, green eyed monster, green horn, green around the gills

 

BLUE:  Calm and Cool : Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue.  A natural color, from the blue of the sky, blue is a universal color. The cool, calming effect of blue makes time pass more quickly and it can help you sleep. Blue is a good color for bedrooms. However, too much blue could dampen spirits.  Blue is said to help in good communication.  In many diverse cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits away.  Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism.  A few blue phrases: true blue, blue blood, baby blues, got the blues, feeling blue, Blue Monday, out of the blue

PURPLE:  Royalty and Spirituality: Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.  Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A purple room can boost a child's imagination or an artist's creativity. Too much purple, like blue, could result in moodiness.  Deep or bright purples suggest riches while lighter purples are more romantic and delicate. Use redder purples for a warmer color scheme or the bluer purples to cool down.  A few purple phrases:  purple cow, purple haze

PINK:  Cotton Candy and Little Girls: Pink is a softer, less violent red. Pink is the sweet side of red. It's cotton candy and bubble gum and babies, especially little girls.  While red stirs up passion and action, studies have shown that large amounts of pink can create physical weakness in people. Perhaps there is a tie-in between this physical reaction and the color's association with the so-called weaker sex.  In some cultures, such as the US, pink is the color of little girls. It represents sugar and spice and everything nice. Pink for men goes in and out of style. Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color.   Both red and pink denote love but while red is hot passion, pink is romantic and charming. Use pink to convey playfulness (hot pink flamingoes) and tenderness (pastel pinks). Multiple shades of pink and light purple or other pastels used together maintain the soft, delicate, and playful nature of pink. Add strength with darker shades of pinks and purple and burgundy.  A few pink phrases: tickled pink, pink collar

BLACK:  Ultimate Dark: Considered the negation of color, black is conservative, goes well with almost any color except the very dark. It also has conflicting connotations. It can be serious and conventional. The color black can also be mysterious, sexy, and sophisticated.  Black is the absence of color. In clothing, black is visually slimming. Black, like other dark colors, can make a room appear to shrink in size and even a well-lit room looks dark with a lot of black. Black can make other colors appear brighter.

In most Western countries black is the color of mourning. Among young people, black is often seen as a color of rebellion. Black is both positive and negative. Use the color black to convey elegance, sophistication, or perhaps a touch of mystery.   A few black phrases:  black tie, pitch black, black list, black market, black hearted

WHITE:  Ultimate Light: White is purity, cleanliness, and innocence. Like black, white goes well with almost any color.  To the human eye, white is a brilliant color that can cause headaches for some. Too much bright white can be blinding.  In most Western countries white is the color for brides. In the East, it's the color for mourning and funerals. White is often associated with hospitals, especially doctors, nurses, and dentists. Some cultures viewed white as the color of royalty or of deities. Angels are typically depicted as wearing white. In early Westerns the good guy wore white while the bad guy wore black.  In most cases white is seen as a neutral background color and other colors, even when used in smaller proportion, are the colors that convey the most meaning in a design. Use white to signify cleanliness or purity or softness. Use lots of white for a summery look. Use small amounts of white to soften a wintery palette or suggest snow.  A few white phrases:  white as the driven snow, white knight, white sale, white elephant,  white flag, white lightening, white wash

BROWN:  Down-to-Earth: Brown is a natural, down-to-earth neutral color. It is found in earth, wood, and stone.  Brown is a warm neutral color that can stimulate the appetite. It is found extensively in nature in both living and non-living materials. Brown represents wholesomeness and earthiness. While it might be considered a little on the dull side, it also represents steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, and health. The color brown and its lighter cousins in tan, taupe, beige, or cream make excellent backgrounds helping accompanying colors appear richer, brighter. Use brown to convey a feeling of warmth, honesty, and wholesomeness. Although found in nature year-round, brown is often considered a fall and winter color. It is more casual than black.  A few brown phrases:  to brown (as a cooking term), brown noser, brown out

GRAY:  Elegant Neutral: Gray is a neutral, balanced color. It is a cool, conservative color that seldom evokes strong emotion although it can be seen as a cloudy or moody color.  The lighter side of black, gray is a cool color seen in storm clouds and some metals.  Like black, gray is used as a color of mourning as well as a color of formality. Along with blue suits, gray suits are part of the uniform of the corporate world. Dark, charcoal gray carries with it some of the strength and mystery of black. It is a sophisticated color without much of the negative attributes of black. Lighter grays are similar to white. Gray tuxedos are common for men at weddings.  All shades of gray can be good, neutral background colors. Use lighter grays in place of white and darker gray in place of black. A few gray phrases:  gray matter, gray power, gray water

 Part two of my color post tomorrow!!!

Cheers, MacKenzie

 

Yesterday was an absolutely glorious day. And where was I? Stuck inside writing another HORRIBLE State report. I was so unhappy. I do hope that the person Mom C found for my job can begin very soon. Technically it's been close to three months since I resigned. Of course, last month was a utter bust of getting anything done under the circumstances. However, I'm itching to move past this job. Yet at the same time, I really, REALLY do enjoy those pay checks. They are helping out quite a bit as we prepare for our move next door.

This past weekend the Siblings all got together again and cleaned out Mema and Mepa's house. It was fairly painful for all, as you can well imagine. We were actually going to start painting in there this week, but because there was a lot left over (originally one of the brothers agreed to clean a lot of things out but once there said he just couldn't do it....). So, tomorrow I am going over to help Papa box up more items for good will, the too good to toss section of the recycling center or things that are just headed for the trash heap. Honey started to help out a little, but it got overwhelming to him, too. Papa and I just seem to have similar views on grieving. You do what you have to do when you have to do it. Somehow, it's like locking out a part of your mind so you can get the job done.

We are going over tonight and trying to figure out some furniture placement. Honey and I have measured out the girls' room and there is no way to get all three beds in there. Papa says where there's a will, there's a way.... He's determined. Okay....

Last night I told Honey that truly, if he didn't want to move in there, if it was just going to be too weird for him, then we wouldn't. Plain and simple as that. As much as he doesn't want to move in there is as much as he wants to get out of here. Plus, he thinks it will be better for everyone all around. His head is engaged in the move, his heart, well, that seems to be another matter. I wonder if last night, him seeing the empty rooms made him somehow realize the permanency of it all. Mepa gone, Mema is some aspects gone..... I can't tell you how much I hate seeing him like that. Unfortunately, even hugs and soft whispers just don't seem enough. It certainly didn't seem so last night.

This weekend we're supposed to go in there and start painting. Hopefully by being there tonight, this weekend, off and on before we ACTUALLY move, Honey will either feel better about the whole thing or call it all off. He's going to know that I'm watching him even though I'll pretend that I'm not. I just want him to be okay.

On a different note, what an interesting day weather wise today. You can actually FEEL the weather fronts meeting and moving together. Yesterday in Bangor it reached the 80's. Today it's supposed to be mid 60's or so. The weather outside when we took Pumpkin to school had that soft, silent balmy feeling permeating through the air. After a lot of clouds, the sun is again beginning to peek out as it did at dawn, but the air definitely has a cooler feel to it. I think while the clouds remain around, it still will have that heaviness to it. Once they pass though, things will feel lighter.

This morning, I really wanted to get our jeans and such out on the clothes line. I hate wasting electricity by using the dryer when we have a perfectly good clothes line outside. I had some of Honey's jeans in the dryer from Sunday night. I took those out and threw them on our bed (our bedroom and the washer/dryer area are right next to each other). Then I sorted the clothes and had so much over the weekend where were were gone so much last week that it spilled out into our room. I started the washing machine then had to go check on the girls real quick. Next, I threw the jeans into the washer, turned, went out into the kitchen again. Stopped. Thought. Sighed. Went back into the bedroom. Sure enough. I had taken the clean clothes from the bed, not the floor, and put them back into the washer. Well, they are REALLY clean now!!!!

Cheers! ~MacKenzie

You know, the thing of it is, it's actually really sad that we need to celebrate an Earth Day to remind us to take better care of this beautiful place where we live. As a place where we live and breathe, shouldn't it take priority EVERY day???? Cheers! ~MacKenzie