One of my favorite moments in the early morning or evening is the time when the sky is changing – when it’s about to be dark or about to be light. The deep blues move and shift and if you blink, it all changes. They remind me of the blues in a Maxfield Parrish illustration. He always used those mysterious, rich shades of blue. It’s one of the reasons I love his work so much.
I woke up too early today. While letting the dogs out, I saw the sky and grabbed my camera.
I wish I’d slept longer as I have to drive to New Haven again today – this time later in the day because I have to catch an evening performance. I’ll be driving back home late tonight. A bit more sleep would have been most welcome. I fall asleep just fine, but somehow during the early morning hours I wake up and my thoughts start running rampant, I can’t get comfortable and eventually get up.
Those middle-of-the-night thoughts and worries can really get to you.
On the other hand, I love the early morning hours when everything is quiet, when the world is still sleeping. I grab a shawl to ward off the chill, take my little furry pals with me into the den, drink a cup of Peet’s French Roast and watch the sun rise.
I like the quiet. More and more, as I get older, I crave quiet. We’re out in the country, yes, but we live on a very busy road. In the summertime, with the windows open, the sound of trucks and cars can be too loud, too annoying. In the winter, with the house shut up tight, those sounds fade into the background. And when it snows: quiet everywhere. We haven’t had a snowfall like that this winter. I wonder if we will in this strange winter of 2012.
I’m on my second cup of coffee now. Riley seems unusually restless this morning and I can’t figure out what he needs or wants. Scout is sleeping on the sofa. Don’s asleep upstairs. I just sneezed five times in a row.
A glimpse of my morning here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
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Tomorrow starts a new series, Thrifty Living 2012. Five of us will be sharing our tips for frugal, thrifty living. We’ll introduce ourselves and share our personal stories over the next two Thursdays, then we’ll take turns sharing the things we do to save money in this crazy economy. I hope you’ll join us.
I am with you on loving the quiet more and more. It might also have something to do with being a Nanny by day, hah. I do so love a quiet evening with the Hubby and the doggies.
Be careful driving home tonight.
Can’t wait for the new series.
Isn’t quietness the best thing in the world, next to coffee and the love of a faithful dog? Any day that begins with those three things are just heaven to me!
That first photo with the moon is magical! I love it! You should start putting your photos on one of those sites that people can purchase them on! I don’t know what they pay, but a friend of mine does that.
You are so lucky, or blessed, or both to have such a magnificent view of the trees/woods. Just ask Brenda how I rave on and on (and on) about wishing I could look out in at least one direction and NOT see the roofs of the neighborhood. There is a healing calmness that’s missing in my life that only comes from being apart from crowds of other people. Not complaining, mind you (although it sure sounds like it, huh?), just stating how much I love the country. High on my bucket list is a home that provides isolation.
Sorry to ramble, got my caffeine buzz on this morning! Have a good day!
The quiet means more to me as time passes. I spent years in first grade class rooms with 22-34 children which I loved. But I never heard a moment of quiet the stillness like you hear alone at home with coffee and pups. I am home now and sometimes miss those inspiring little sunny faces as they walk in each day. But the quiet day pulls me back to it and I rest.
I totally agree with you about the quiet, but I am very fortunate to live at a very quiet place. We keep our window open all night and there is not a single car driving by most of the nights. :-)
When I am at home I don’t listen to radio or music, I just enjoy the quiet remembering the times with my four boys around. There was always enough noise, so I turned off any divice that made the noise louder. The boys was all I could handle. Although I have to be honest, they were not loud kids just healthy boys. And we all enjoyed quiet, still do.
What a beautiful sky! I love those deep, deep blues :D It’s when I see images like these that I regret that the Project :: Sky 365 group is skyscapes only!
I love quiet mornings too – this was one of them as DH is away working in LA and I love being alone sometimes. I never put TV or music on in the morning – just enjoy the early bird songs and the rustle of the oak leaves still hanging on outside the bedroom window.
Be safe on the roads tonight Claudia – and be well, no more sneezing, hopefully!
Hugs – Mary
Hey, I know that early morning sky. Isn’t it so peaceful at that time of the morn. However, I too, am always wishing for a few more winks. By the way, great update on Mere’s blog. Love your choices.
First of all… those photos are so beautiful! I love that time of the day and the quiet. I was just talking to a co-worker the other day about that. Sometimes I wish that I lived out in the country… maybe in a vinyard… with a handsome farmer, thankyouverymuch. Hey, a girl can dream…
I’m cozied in with my shaggy boy here… contemplating another cuppa. I’m looking forward to your new series. Frugal living has been on my mind lately. I’ve been wanting to make some of that homemade laundry detergent I’ve been seeing all over blogland.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Jill
There’s nothing like quiet in the country after a snow storm. Not that I’m wishing one on any of us.
Love those indigo blues…
Such wonderful sky pictures! Makes me want to grab my brush and paints… Since I work evenings and don’t get to bed until very late, I don’t usually arise early. Even on a cruise I slept in while my friend took wonderful pictures of the sun rising. I do love the quiet. Unfortunately my apartment is on a busy street, next to a parking lot and can be quite noisy. But, most of the noise can be blocked out.
Be very careful driving tonight. The cold makes for black ice and other treachery. New Haven is so far off. If you are ever in our area let me know and we could catch a quick cuppa! Blessings, Linda
Love the photos and the feeling of peace and quiet. Looking forward to your series on thrifty living. My husband and I are near-experts on that topic, but I know you’ll have something new for me too! :-) Jennifer
I too love those quiet morning moments…with a cup of coffee and a slight chill in the air, it’s my favorite time as well.
Your shawl sounds comfy too, maybe I’ll try to knit one before winter ends.
Have a safe drive.
I love quiet mornings, afternoons or evenings. The only problem is I am never alone to enjoy them all by myself. Someday when I am alone to much I will look back and wonder why I craved alone time, but for not I am still craving. Beautiful post Claud. By the way you are getting rave reviews for your work on my blog.
XO,
Mere
Lovely pictures, Claudia. I too, cherish my quiet moments – far and few between that they are – I use them to recharge. Like the sounds of the new series, I will be back to check it out. Ann
Ooooo! Love the moody photos. Really captures a time of night we rarely see.
Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!
HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com
Your photoes are amazing dear Claudia, and mornings can be so very beautiful. But I love to stay in my bed, untill it is light outside, -and as we don`t have pets, noone awakes me, but myself if I have to see the toilet,:) I can also have those early mornings, where every thought and every worrie spinns around in my head- and then I also give up, about falling asleep again.
Something is falling from the sky…don`t know if it is snow or rain, and difficult to see it from here. Hope it is rain.
Hugs,Dorthe
Claudia,
I love the early hours. I cannot seem to sleep late….Problems that plague me during the day are often solved during these hours while the house is absolutely still. I write my blog, edit photos, read the news and just catch up.
My treat is a latte that I make in the espresso machine. I straighten pillows and then fire up the computer.
Safe trip. Looking forward to thrifty ideas.
Carol
My brain doesn’t even function in that time of the morning. I enjoyed your photos today. Thanks for sharing.
God bless you….you sneezed!
I have been having the same trouble, go to bed sleep fine until 3am, then I toss and turn and my mind goes wild
What a pretty picture! I’m up every morning at 4:30.I get up with my hubby.I love the early morning.Everything is so peaceful.That’s when i start all my projects.I’m pooped by afternoon.I’m in bed at 8:00 pm every night.
Kathy
You know that feeling when you find someone else that like the same kind of artist as you do? I fell in love with Maxfield Parish in art college. Those dreamy scenes, and moody colors, are so perfectly reflected in your photos.
We are morning people here, and so is the Boo. My sister and BIL are night owls…that makes a pretty interesting household.
Looking forward to the start of the series on Thursday. Now I guess I had better start writing my post. LOL.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Phenomenal photos, Claudia! I know you’d rather have had the sleep. But these are keepers for sure. Maybe there is something about getting older that you crave quiet. I’ve always been that way, but am getting more so as every year passes. You be safe, my beloved friend!
Brenda
Those shots are magnificent. Hope your day wasn’t too long. P.S. You know what early morning time is good for don’t you (:
I’ve loved your decorating posts, for some time now, but this introspective post has got to be my favorite. It brought tears to my eyes. I live in San Diego, so we don’t have the snow or as much of the cold, but I think those night time/early morning thoughts are universal.Sometimes the world can seem so harsh. But that’s why we have our pets and our warm beverages:)
First,Bless you!
Secondly, beautiful photos.
I like quiet times as well.
and the sun rise.
Pat
Like you, I fall asleep quickly at night, but wake up either in the middle of the night or very early in the morning and can’t fall back asleep for all of the thoughts whirling around in my head.I do love dawn though, so that is some compensation for the lack of sleep.
Laura
The photographs are beautiful, and now I must go google Maxfield Parrish!!
I like the quiet times more and more. Too much noise in the world.