Thursday 1 January 2015

Colour my world

Hello and welcome to the first day of a brand spanking new year. Nice of you to call in. I'll try again with an answer to this question. 
Terra28 December 2014 at 03:55
Some years I choose a word for the year, do you ever do that?
Thanks Terra. I haven't thought about doing this, but now you come to mention it, yes, I will. The first word that came to mind as I was out for a morning walk was COLOUR, so that is my chosen word. I will open my eyes and look for colour every day. Even if the world looks grey and gloomy I will search for colour where I least expect it. I will try and find colour where there is none. It isn't hard when you walk around a pretty village, there are little pockets of colour everywhere. 
I pass these beautiful purple berries on my way to the church. They seem to last ages, but look closely, some of them are beginning to shrivel a bit and lose their colour. 
 A few red berries left for the birds, against a background of yellow and green variegated leaves.

I wonder what has caused the green mould to form such a perfect pattern on the wooden fence?

As I enter the churchyard I see colour. Trevor is trimming the branches from the trees. His red overall stands out against the dark trunk.

It's a hard job he has, there are three avenue's of trees to cut back, it will take him a while. If he does one a day it will probably take him to the end of the month. 

They look pretty ugly when they have been butchered, but they will come back.
Oh look, red has been joined by yellow. Graham, the previous church gardener, is out for a morning walk with Lady dog.

Oh my, more colour has arrived, people pass through here on the way to the shop. Now we have orange and purple. Little girl is eating my favourite ice cream, she has a Magnum.

So what colour is your world? Do you see things in fifty shades of grey, are you locked in your own little world and don't see the colour beyond it? It's there, you just have to find it. I am going to look for colour every day because it makes me cheerful, and it lifts my spirits.

Colour blindness must be quite difficult to cope with, I'm sorry if you have this problem. I have worked as a fundraiser for the RNIB so have a little understanding of visual impairment. If you are in this category, and you can't see very well, please join in and let us know what other senses you use to bring a little colour into your life. I would be very interested to know.

Have you chosen a word for the year, share it with us, please.

Thank you for all your comments and emails over the last few days. Enjoy the rest of today.
Toodle pip.

51 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Ilona. Thanks for a wonderful post. My own word is HOPE !

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    1. Hi. I think we should all try and hang on to hope, without it we are nothing. Thanks for that.

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  2. I didn't know you had been an RNIB fundraiser. My Grandad lost his sight and had a lovely guide dog so I have experience of visual impairment too and know the difference a dog can make - I like to support the guide dogs charity as a result. I think colour is a really good word for the year and what a lot of it you found!

    Happy New Year!

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    1. Hi Louise. Yes, I used to go into schools and do a presentation in assembly on different kinds of visual impairment, and show a selection of gadgets that blind people could get to help them in their daily lives. Guide dogs do a wonderful job.

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    2. From Margie in Toronto - guide dogs are amazing - I have a visually impaired colleague at the office and she has had two dogs in the time that I have known her and they are truly wonderful animals - how interesting it must have been to work with them!

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  3. Happy new year Ilona. I really like this post it's such a positive start to the new year and think I will join you in looking for colour in the world. Unfortunately I am often one of those people who only see the grey, particularly in the cold winter months, so I think looking for colour will do me good and help to snap me out doldrums.

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  4. What a wonderful post to start the new year with. I feel inspired. Happy New Year. Tracy

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  5. I never was a fan of November and March for outside appearances. Fall color done and too early for spring growth, yet little or no snow to cover the browness of it all. I'm going to take your post as a challenge to find lively colors in unique places.

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    1. I felt exactly the same way as you. I hated November and March. I learned to look at that time in a different way. Instead of looking at the lack of color on the ground, I looked up. With no leaves to block the view, you can see the "bones" of the trees. It is amazing how differently the trees grow. The texture of the bark is different and the way the branches grow. It doesn't change the gloomy grey/brown of that time of year, but it gives you something new to ponder. Look up. :-)

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  6. hello Ilona , A happy new yaer to you , I think the word i would choose would be Positive as i am positive, I will be even more frugal than last year, hoping to pay off our debts (or almost ) for 2016 , But then again i always look forward to the new year even more than christmas waiting for the spring and summer to kick in, it beats felling glum on dark days like today xxx

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  7. What an inspiring first post for 2015. Myword for this year is CALM as I seemed to have mislaid mine somewhere! Torrential rain and high wind here today but we are snug in our home and I think I may have a catch up day with some recorded TV. Catriona

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  8. Love the Colour post. I have a bowl of Clementines on the kitchen window sill at the moment and it brings a lovely splash of colour to a very grey day here in Sussex.

    My word for 2015 is FOCUS. I get distracted very easily, so this year I really need to knuckle down and FOCUS on the things I need to do to.

    Linda xxx

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  9. What a great idea....I m on board with that and color is a great place to start..
    I love Rocky photo-bombing the tree trimmer - hilarious....
    Happy New Year, Ilona !

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  10. Happy new year to you and your readers may it be a colourfull one. My word is always the same every year its for the many sight impaired and blind in the world, FRAGRANT!
    Janet xx

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  11. That is a great idea...I love colour! My word for the year will be KIND - inspied by Luke Cameron and his Good Deed Diary blog. Now I am off to play with my stash of many coloured wools...you have given me an idea!

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  12. I don't know why such destruction and mutilation of beautiful trees is allowed. People are responsible for most of the ugly in this world. I'm afraid colour does nothing to hide that.

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    1. Hi Anon, Read Wendy's explanation of tree trimming, below. She is correct. I have been here for 18 years, and have seen them cut back several times. They have to be, as she quite rightly says. They would be far too big for a church yard if left to their own devices. They will be lovely in the spring.

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    2. Tree maintenance is NOT destruction. It helps to sustain and prolong healthy trees which would otherwisw die. Go forth and multiply (to paraphrase what I would really like you to do!!) Catriona

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  13. Two actually, inspired by individuals like your good self, Iiona- frugal fifteen!

    HNY 2015!

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  14. Happy New Year Ilona, colour is a good word for you. I surround myself with colour at all times as I love it. I have a phrase for this year that I intend to follow, Have Some More Fun. It was the catch phrase for an artist on the telly several years ago and has stuck with me. This year seems a good time to adopt it as my own, I am settled in my new home in my new country. I already have lots of fun but see no reason not to have more.

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  15. Happy New Year! Colour is a wonderful word. I am a colour junkie, colour is everywhere even in snowed in landscapes, you just need to look. My word for 2015 is streamline. I need to declutter, lose some of the belly flab! .Have only a few projects on the go instead of a gazillion! Simplify my garden and so on.

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  16. Happy New Year Ilona. We enjoyed seeing your pics of colour on such a dull day. Loved seeing Rocky again. By the way, to the anonymous commenter above. This type of tree is usually pollarded every 2yrs or so to stop them growing to forest-like proportions. When the new growth comes in the spring they look beautiful. They are certainly not mutilated or destroyed as you say. Graham is doing a wonderful job to prolong their life.
    Wendy (Wales)

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  17. Hi Ilona, my word is not as thoughtful as you and your readers - but it is 'Mortgage', I am determined to knock it down this year and have become a little obsessed. I did well last year and am determined to do better this. Thank you for lovely pictures, it is always a treat to see Rocky. Debbie x

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  18. Happy New Year! My word is "natural". I am really going to try to use less and the things I do buy are going to be made of natural fibres, wood and stone and be recycled and sustainable as far as possible. I am going to be more " natural" in the sense of being "authentic" in my dealings with people and just be myself.

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  19. Happy New Year to you and all your readers. I am also determined to declutter this year and have made a brilliant start. Now we are debt free apart from the mortgage, we don't need to hoard as much 'just in case' something breaks or needs replacing. I'll keep a few things like my spare kettle and hair dryer but lots of the old clothes, many of which were passed down to us, can now go to the charity shop.

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  20. very interesting post. I used to go to hospital every week with depression a few years back. I was told to not wear black but colour every day. I took the psychologist's advice and wear bright colours every day so the word 'colour' is very important to me. I would think if my dad saw Ilona's post he would choose "cheerful" as his word. Natalie.

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  21. I love your word, and your photos to go with it. I do choose a word for the year and this year my word is Light. It has several meanings, and I like that. Last year the whole month of January passed before I could decide on a word and this year I wasn't up an hour yet this morning and my word came to me.

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  22. Although I really like your choice of color, my word is listen. On those days when I can turn down the noise in my mind, I am amazed by the sounds of our natural world - squirrels racing along the fence, rustling leaves and breezes, bugs and bees, children playing, and the birds. So much to listen to and marvel at. Happy New Year, all!

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  23. Happy New Year! I look forward to colorful photos coming all year long. These ones are great. I think the word I shall choose is Peace. And by that I mean "inner peace". I want to stop the constant inner dialogue I carry on in my head all the time. I am going to try to calm down my thoughts and feel more peaceful.

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    1. Ohhh, Darlene, I just posted mine and now saw yours, we can share it! Happy New Year, peaceful you! x

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    2. I'm happy to share! Maybe we can keep each other as peaceful as possible. Happy New Year, Peaceful Friend!

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  24. Hi Ilona what a lovely upbeat post to start the year. My words, I am having two (greedy Twiggy) are POSITIVE I have a year of big changes ahead and must remain positive ad it is all potentially good and exciting. My other word is MAKE as I am determined to make something every day even if it's just doing a little more of my cross stitch !!
    Twiggy

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  25. I loved this post! I've never really thought of choosing a word to focus on for the year. I loved your word focus and so many of your readers choices. Since my husband and I have had some health issues connected to reactions of things in our environment, I think mine will be NATURAL. I will seek out the natural for every need. Thanks for the great idea!

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  26. I have been in my sewing room nearly all day, surrounded by glorious colour!
    Regarding comments about the trees. Here in SOmerset, the traditional pollarding of the willows looks very harsh, but come the Spring, we will enjoy a wonderful surge of new, green growth. We had to pollard our Hazel tree and the withies were in great demand. for making new hedges.

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  27. Happy New Year! My word for 2015 will definitely be PEACEFUL. I hope to manage to carry it well.

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  28. Hi Ilona, great post.... you started the day and the year on a wonderful note. My words for the year (and the future) reduce-reuse-recycle. I just worry about all the "stuff" on the planet and all the waste. Love waking up to your posts... 42 degrees here today in Adelaide South Australia. Cheers, Jo

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  29. Happy New Year, Ilona! Nice to see some pollarding being done. What kind of trees are they? My ash trees are several hundred years old and only need pollarding every ten years.

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    1. Hello Sarah,
      They are probably Lime trees.
      Wendy (Wales)

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    2. Can confirm, yes they are.There is one at the end of my road which has never been pollarded. The blossoms smell lovely when they are out. Sad to say it has grown far too big, and I suspect it may have to be felled at some point in the future. There is a story that once a horse rider rode into the lower branches and was killed by the fall. I'm surprised it wasn't taken down then.

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  30. Hi again, just thought about this, 42 degrees (C) is about 108 degrees (F) anyway a hot one coming.... main worry is bushfires.... vegetable garden is covered with metres of upholstery fabric I bought at an auction for $1.. into its 3rd year AND there is lots left on the roll that I have not even touched yet... held on with wooden pegs! Works a treat only issue is if it gets windy, which is predicted, I may need to re peg. Cheers Jo

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  31. I was really excited to see pollarding being done on mature trees! Pollarding and coppicing are ancient methods I know about only from research in forest management history, but when I've travelled to places where the trees had clearly been pollarded (in Ireland and in France), there was no one around who could talk to me about it.
    Great snaps - Thanks, Ilona!

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  32. Hello and Happy New Year ! Great photos and thoughts on topic=very cheering.Thinking on it,"gratitude" will be my word for this upcoming year.In life's journey,in all that it brings, the good and the bad,I am very thankful to be part of this amazing life.Best wishes and warm regards,Destemona

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  33. Love your word of the year! I think artists have a knack of seeing beauty, like you do. I just keep looking for Rocky. I am a doggie lover. I will think about a word for the year. May you have a wonderful 2015, blessings following you wherever you go. Your blog is a great read.

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  34. Happy New Year Ilona! Love this Post! X

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  35. From Margie in Toronto - what a wonderful post to start the year with Ilona - thank you! I think my word will be COZY - I've spent time and a bit of money on my flat this past year and I'm really happy with the results - a number of the visitors that I've had over these past couple of weeks have commented on how cozy my place is now and it makes me very happy. I have a busy life and live in a large city so having my home as my sanctuary is very important. Happy New Year Ilona.

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  36. Lovely pictures. My word is determination for 2015. Happy New Year :)

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  37. Happy New Year, Ilona. I have been reading your blog for years and occasionally comment.

    Love the variety of your topics, especially joining in with your walks, both long treks and short ones around your village.

    I always learn something new or have a smile. Today my new thing was pollarding. We don't have it here. Trees are let to grow as they wish and then butchered if they are close to power lines. You would be sad to see the hack jobs done on them. Pollarding is something our council workers and tree carers could learn.

    I hope I have such fun and such a positive outlook in 15 years time when I am your age and retired.

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  38. I love your word and your upbeat, colourful post! You take the best photos, Ilona. You have an artist's eye for composition.

    I haven't thought of a word for the year. Hmm...have to ponder that. Oh, it just came to me. My word is going to be "smile."

    Thank you for your work with RNIB. Even here in the U.S. my mother has benefited from their research. I bought her a wonderful gadget called PenFriend that they developed.

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  39. Happy New Year. What a great idea of having colour as the word for the year. I feel quite inspired to find happy and cheerful colours everyday. I wonder how long it will last for me?
    Carolx

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  40. Happy New Year Ilona, good word choice and love the photos in the church garden with the colourful clothing.

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  41. Happy New Year Ilona. As we are hoping to move back to Devon this year when my husband retires, my chosen word is DECLUTTER. I've got rid of a lot of things, but we have so much stuff, it's an ongoing battle. I also need to finish some craft projects, nothing as grand as yours I hasten to add, just basic run-of-the-mill stuff.

    Joan (Wales)

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