Peony Love Affair
Canon 5D Mark ll, 100 2.8 macro, 3.5 aperture, 1/100 shutter, 100 ISO
I have a long-standing love affair with Peonies. They were always my Grandmother Susie’s favorite flower. She adored them. Now they are mine too. And yet I have never had Peony blossoms in my home. They always seem to be just out of season at the florists, and I do not own a Peony bush. (This shall be remedied very soon.) However, I see them in magazines, at weddings, and in classy floral arrangements everywhere. So today I felt a little giddy getting about some to arrange for my own table. Okay very giddy. My friend Denise Myers, who owns and operates TruSo Weddings, procured these pink lovelies for me, and let me borrow the milk glass I arranged them in as well.
I gave them a pep talk on the ride home, worried the heat would change their cheerful disposition. I discovered something new and wonderful about them once I held their sweet crowns in my hands. They are divinely fragrant. I inhaled their scent deeply, letting the soft petals enfold my nose. “Mmmmm….” I exhaled in satisfaction. “Peonies.” They seemed shy, almost coy, as they tilted their heads gently to the side, and downward. I tried to coax them out of their humility with cool water and gentle handling of their blooms. They seemed grateful and began to open softly. They were indeed more exquisite than I remembered, their petals resembling translucent paper– each one uniquely shaped crinkling and curling at the ends. Delightful. When I placed them in the sunshine, the light poured right through them, as if they were meant to be together, the Peonies and the sunshine. I swooned.
Yes, all of this over my very own Peonies. May you find something that delights your senses and your heart today too.
I love these so much I would love to give away an 8×12 print of one them. Leave me a comment telling me about something that makes your heart swoon and I will pick a winner at random this weekend.:)
(This contest is now closed.)
Psalm 16:11 ~” You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Peonies in Milk Glass
Cheerful Palette
Kissing the Sunlight
Exquisite
Basket of Joy
29 Comments
There is one thing that has the capability to make me swoon unfailingly- a sunset. No matter where you are- a sunset creates fabulous colors and patterns in the sky that make my heart melt. It is so glorious to watch the masterpiece of my Creator daily- I am very blessed <3
Oh, Summer,
How I love the sunsets too. Yes, they do make me swoon as well. You are aptly named.:)
Well executed moments in rock n roll . . . and you. (Do guys swoon?)
I love these photos so much! I, too, swoon over peonies. Every year I wait with baited breath for those first little babies to arrive. Seriously, every bride should have them in her wedding! I love reading your blog, admiring your photos, and the fact that you always dance when I see you at weddings. So, I already knew you were one of the coolest people on the plant …. But then, when I read on FB that your heart ‘needed’ peonies … Well, I thought ‘Ok, I love this girl! She will have peonies!’ And, of course, you captured their beauty perfectly. Love, love, love the soft edges of the milk glass combined with their pink fluffiness!
Oh, here is what I swoon over! My daughter, Ansley, was one if those babies with the kind of chubby cheeks that created the irresistible force that caused anyone in close range to stop what they were doing and come touch her sweet little face. She is now almost 11 years old and she still has those chubby cheeks. Oh, how she hates them! She stares in the mirror and declares them a curse, proclaiming with tween angst ‘Mom, they are NEVER going to go away!’. I assure her she will grow out of them and that she is beautiful. In the mornings, I sneak in her room and kiss those soft as rose petals cheeks. I swoon… And secretly hope she keeps them just a little while longer.
Denise,
How I love the pudgy cheeks! My Johnny had them, and they are gone now, replaced by the angular bone structure of a man. Your daughter is adorable. Don’t let her wish those dimples away!
Mary Anne, something about your blog reminds me of how God see us. He lovingly picks us up. Inhales and finds us worthy of His touch. Our heads tilt from side to side as He gently coaxes us to be all He’s created us to be. In our gratefulness we open softly and He finds us to be exquisite. And when we embrace His love, the light shines right through us.
Then God said, “Yes, and all this over my very own People. I adore seeing His love in the small, seemingly ordinary things.
Bonnie,
I loved this! You should be writing a blog!
Swoon: interesting word, eh? A verb, meaning, ‘to be overwhelmed by ecstatic joy.’
And the question stands, what is it that can push you to such a place of delight and glee? What can move your spirit and erode away any worries that may hang heavy over your being?
Yes, things in nature.
Yes, the smile of a newborn
The smell of freshly baked, double fudged brownies.
And even the rolling in of the waves on a particularly beautiful day on the shore of the Atlantic.
But what is it that encompasses all of these things of beauty? What umbrella girds the weight of these moments we adore? There is something that covers it all, I know it, something that beats out these fleeting experiences.
Surely the tying together of all beautiful things we know is the radiating majesty of the glory of our Creator. The glimpse of God’s character in his creation is overwhelming when we truly grab onto a piece of it. Be it in the things we sense externally or the emotions that swell inside of us, our hearts are lifted and our souls are flooded with an enigma of the power and scope of our Redeemer. He is the essence of life itself.
It’s in the manifestation of these moments of delight, when we swoon over this or that, it’s then that God sneaks up on us, reveals himself to us and it causes us to, for just a moment, see him for who He really is. And, how could it not when all creation sings His praise, and ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork’
What a lovely reply, Michael. So beautifully written. Thank you.
Baby feet make me swoon. I love to kiss those fat little ravioli feet. If someone hands me a baby with shoes on, I’m guaranteed to pull the shoes off just to peek at those little stubby toes. I just love them.
Marti,
That is the sweetest thing. I love baby toes too! I hope you have photos of all your children’s toes to cherish!
Pretty peonies 🙂 They look like clouds or something. I would say 2 things make my heart “swoon”, as you say, without fail. 1) Spending time exploring nature where you can’t hear city noise or people any more. Especially when you have no destination in mind. 2) After a long day apart, reconnecting with Derian. Nothing beats a great conversation with your best friend after a stressful day.
Sara,
I feel that way too, in nature. Thank you for reminding me how wonderful that is.:)
I swoon when my new husband does thoughtful little things, like turning down my side of the covers so the sheets get cold, starting dinner so I don’t have to after yoga, and watching old musicals with me because they remind me of my childhood. I’m a very blessed wife to a very sweet and thoughtful man :).
Talitha,
I love this. What sweet little things to share. What a sweet husband he is to you, and how sweet that you notice it all. Love to you both!
These peonies, those roses, violets, hydrangeas, lilies, you name it, flowers make me swoon. I find myself catching my breath when I walk into my garden and see whatever flowers are blooming that day. Your pictures of flowers, Mary Anne, cause the same reaction. They warm my heart and make me all gooey inside. For me the beauty of the flowers shout out God’s love the loudest. They don’t require anything from us but appreciation, and maybe a little water.
Thank you for your sweet comment, Freda. Sounds like we swoon over the same things!
My heart swoons when I think of my precious newly wed daughter, Marabeth, and her husband. They were married on May 16th. She was absolutely so giddy that she cried until she laughed uncontrollably during the ceremony! You see, she wanted to get married 2 years earlier but waited 730 extra days {she counted, I promise} until they were further along in college [at her parent’s request].
She also absolutely adores peonies. But because budget trade-offs required it, she gave up her beloved flowers in her bridal bouquet. I would so love to give her one of these pictures to honor the waiting and the trade-offs she’s made in this journey.
That is so special, Sharon! I wish she could have had the Peonies in her bouquet. So sweet that she gave them up. I would love to meet her someday.:)
Love, Love, Love!
What makes my heart swoon…
When I get the chance to watch horses play around with one another and/or interact with a human they trust. There is a vibrance to those animals….So much intuition and personality. Each has a distinct spirit, and every now and then, we get the chance to see it freely emerge. Their structure is beautiful to me. Especially when they canter. There is something about all of that which calls me to let my own unique spirit “play” too!
🙂
I am right there with you, Leslie! I think it was Sir Winston Churchill said “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” That goes for Women too.:)
I swoon when Christian comes up to me and says, Mommy, am I your favorite little boy?…then I say, yes…and then he says thank you Mommy, I love you the most.
That is the sweetest thing, ever Jen. I am swooning with you.:)
These are gorgeous, Mary Anne! I’m not sure there is a picture I’ve ever NOT liked of yours! You capture God’s beauty, elegance, creativeness, and spirit in your pictures. Thanks for allowing time to stand still for a moment so that we, too, can be still for God (Psalm 46:10).
Beautiful pictures/post……I really enjoy looking through your project. (your sister Dinah sent me a link to your blog) Blessings!
Hey there! I understand this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask.
Does managing a well-established website like yours
take a massive amount work? I’m brand new to operating a blog
however I do write in my diary every day. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and views online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of
recommendations or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers.
Thankyou!
Hi there Emily,
I don’t know if I have much advice and I am sorry for the late reply. I would say just be yourself. You are unique and special just the way you are and the world needs to see that. Blessings to you and your new endeavors!