Be Colorful Coastal

A Blogging Perspective

• I am sharing my blogging and fresh start insights today with A Stroll Thru Life. 

 

Blogging. I've been at it for a while now.  I began my blog, which was originally called BeColorful, to promote

my own uniquely painted furniture and home decor.

Wow, holy novice! Some of those posts were embarrassingly primitive.

 

Sue's Tea Cart

 

 

 

Sonnie's Cabinet

 

 

 

wine mixed media

 

 

 

Bab's Lamp

 

 

 

 

Bistro Set

 

 

 

Teresa's Table

 

 

 

 

Suzy's Table

 

 

 

But, my artistic style has changed and continues to evolve. I needed to take a break from painting to determine where I wanted to head next. When I do eventually return to my artistic outlet, and as I look at these older photos, I think it will be soon, I hope it will have a new look with a Palm Beach flair. I would like to try and create a modern take on the classic chinoiserie style (think more of the Lilly Pulitzer does furniture). Ultimately, what I want to do is to pair my creative drive and my love affair with casually elegant and coastal chic furniture designs.

 

 

Muffy's Table

 

Like my painting style, my blog has also morphed from just a venue to showcase my furniture and home decor items to a place where I can also share our remodeling projects and room designs. This direction became even more pronounced after we purchased our home in Florida. I love, to share our remodeling efforts and the adventures of downsizing our home up north, and I will continue to do just that, but the influence of a tropical environment has definitely made its mark on my design direction here on Be Colorful Coastal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I usually step away from the blog during the Christmas holidays because I wonder who has time to read blogs in late December and I want to focus my energies on the people and things that make this season so special for me. But now the last of the Christmas decor has been packed away and I am giving some thought of where I hope to go with this blog in 2019.  I have had two weeks to reassess. Stepping back and looking forward with fresh eyes and intentions was, I think, a good thing and I hope you will agree and continue to follow along. This year I would like to include some travel tips, organizational hints, thoughts on having a second home, and some unique entertaining and style ideas as well. It's why I read blogs, to learn something new from people that share my interests. I hope to be able to say that you will find enough fun, interesting, and creative ideas that you can incorporate into your own world and that they will keep you coming back for more. 

 

The Absolute Must-Read Book This Year

 

Every once in a while I encounter a book that I am so enamored with that I can't wait to share it on one of my end-of-year Recommended Read posts on Be Colorful Coastal. Where The Crawdads Sing is one of those books.  

 

The story begins as the seven-year-old protagonist, Kya, watches as her mother is walking down the dusty road leading away from their home, carrying a suitcase. This abandonment is repeated over and over as every one of Kya's family members eventually leaves her to survive alone in the marshes of North Carolina. Yes, this is a suspense-filled murder mystery and it is also a coming of age story, but it is definitely so much more. It is the saga of a strong girl, turned a woman, who endures being deserted by her family, extreme ostracization, the prejudice of the townspeople, and the challenges that are created by her lack of education. It is a heroic tale of the human struggle with loneliness, trust, and rejection. The book is also layered with themes of nature vs man, male vs. female, and privilege vs adversity. The book, set in the 1960s and 1970s  of the southern US, addresses many issues such as bigotry, racism, predatory behaviors, and the hypocrisy of religious leaders. Issues that are still relevant today.

I found myself cheering for every small success in the long line of Kya's challenges and for the goodness and kindness of others who would, at times, rise up to help her.  At its heart, Where The Crawdads Sing is a superbly written story in a hauntingly beautiful setting of a strong woman, her survival, growth, and the victory of the human spirit. It is the debut novel of writer Delia Owens, and the easy flow of her words describing a tortured subject matter are brilliant.

These are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Barkley Cove served its religion hard-boiled and deep-fried." Delia Owens

 

"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar." Delia Owens

 

"TUTORED BY MILLIONS OF MINUTES ALONE, Kya thought she knew lonely." Delia Owens

 

"I wasn't aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full."

Delia Owens.

 

 Delia Owens via

deliaowens.com

I discovered this book while randomly searching for my next read. When I ran across Reese Witherspoon's book club, Hello Sunshine, I noticed that this was the September book choice. If her other selections are anywhere near as monumental and moving as this one, I will be reading every suggestion she offers up.

via Hello Sunshine

BTW, this month's selection from Hello Sunshine is One Day In December by Josie Silver 

Since I began writing this post I've learned that Delia Owen's book will be adapted for a film directed by Reese Witherspoon! Woo woo! Insert happy dance emoji.

Opa and happy reading,

P