“Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you have lost it you can never get it back.” Harvey Mackay.
Having just celebrated another birthday, I am only too aware of the rapid movement of time and how precious every moment is.
Flowers from an English country garden. A beautiful moment in time. When I sit observing Mother Nature’s bounty, I am reminded that all of life is fragile and temporary. A flower in full bloom reminds me that beauty is a fleeting and enjoyable event, however it is the full evolution of a plant that teaches us so much more.
watercolourAs Charles Darwin said – ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent – it is the one that is most adaptable to change’
This is possibly one of the many reasons that I am so attracted to the hummingbird. The Hummingbird goes into a deep torpor during the cold nights – a death like sleep where the little creature lowers its metabolic rate by as much as 95%. As the warm sun rises, so does the metabolic rate of the hummingbird. The tiny bird awakens from this state with enough energy reserves to see it through the first feedings of the morning. The hummingbird’s circadian clock triggers its time of arousal, one or two hours before dawn.
watercolour/gouacheCircadian rhythms are found in human beings and most living things, responding primarily to light and darkness in the environment. However in today’s 24/7 techno charged world where time zones are crossed without even a thought and light pollution prevails around major cities, we humans seem to have lost track of the natural rhythms of life. Our time clocks are out of alignment .
watercolourIs it any wonder then, that so many are feeling stress and an inability to slow down and relax? Is it any wonder that many young children who are glued to screens, often in their bedrooms, never feel at rest?
Potting plants in a Somerset garden From Marcus Aurelius – ‘Time is a river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.’
All of which convinces me how important it is to make the very best of every moment we have, because once that moments gone, it will never return.
watercolour
A Bientôt http://www.janetweightreed.co.uk
all so lovely.. Bob Martin https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fvaccineinjurycompensationcanada.weebly.com%2F&h=ATO_B5hTlE4j6duMYNE2oBSEwzMvw21VzTD81oE8HQNM0wjk2FhWWBy-u9CIf0EsHhX2OLsChYmnX-MIKlbFtxsimLHUpIfrCAgLa6ZSRy9tocwEmASXOtTMik1jR9skPZn-cbrDTlXXAtN_s2OTnek8wUYUgUoem4URQDg0ShhHKdWvBZPnTNH0C1AylQYSpKu67aLvo-TC_v5hEQvcBhWsPZyHxZ0NfTSbyA4RV3Ud7om0LftEnkkIDvK-89T25Z4UcvQrVQ2zw6JY6iEFLtTABALEiGLU7g
Good morning and thank you very much – Janet 🙂
thank you too, Bob
Loved your post and marvellous images.
Thank you so much Peter and thank you for the re blog – I really appreciate. Janet 🙂 x
Reblogged this on Hutts New World.
Hi Janet,
pictures are wonderful. I like that strong and live colors .I didn’t know that about hummingbird.Nature is really amazing. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post
Thank you Ben. I always appreciate your comments. Janet 🙂
Reblogging to my sister site, Success Inspirers World
Good morning and thank you so much for the re blog – Hope you enjoy a lovely day – Janet 🙂
A timely alert over time, Janet, and not frittering it! This is gorgeous vibrant work. And thank you for that fabulous info about humming birds. Also a belated happy birthday. They do concentrate the mind, don’t they.
Good morning Tish Thank you so much for this lovely comment. and yes you are so right, birthdays do concentrate the mind. We are having a little brightness today – and very cold. Hope all is well Janet 🙂
Thank you, Janet, all is well, but definitely v. chilly with some left-over snowflakes on the roof lights. Brrr.
What a visual treat this morning, thanks Janet and Happy Birthday.
Thank you Sharon for your lovely comment. janet 🙂
Beautiful vibrant paintings….
Thank you very much Evelyn. Janet 🙂
The thoughts are almost as beautiful as the images…wonderful color as always. Happy Birthday and many more–(K)
Thank you so much – Hope you enjoy a beautiful day – Janet 🙂 x
Absolutely wonderful post. Stunning paintings and illuminating words. Thank you. Anita.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read. Much appreciated Janet:)
STUNNING work! And happy birthday 🙂
Thank you very much – Janet 🙂
These paintings are so beautiful!
Thank you very much for your lovely comment and for stopping by to read my post. Janet 🙂
Yes, where does the time go?Sad days seem long and happy days fly by. If we are more aware from looking at your colours we will get more out of our walks and general percettions and not be lost in useless thiought.:)xxxxKathryn
Hi Dear Katherine. That is so true….Thank you so much for enjoying the colour and I do hope that you have a beautiful and creative weekend. Janet xxx
Thank you,Janet.You too.xxxx
the words were as beautiful and clear as a bell, ringing in the wind, and the use of water colors was of the school I like the best. So, though I always love your paintings, it was especially good today. I’ve come through a difficult week, and as I approach the sabbath, having forced myself to calm as best I could, it was a great treat to visit with you.
Thank you Shimon and I so glad that these paintings soothed a little. Janet 🙂
Happy birthday. 🍦🍧🍨🎂🍰🍾🥂🍻🍸🍹🍰🍰🎂🎂
Thank you so much – that is very kind of you 🙂 Hope you have a lovely weekend. janet xx
Thanks. My birthday is at the end of February.
Happy Birthday – I jumped the gun a little and wished you a happy birthday on your post today! But you know my heart’s in the right place. Hope all is well for you and yours in this ever crazy world. janet x
Thanks. Life is good.
Oh what a colorful joy to be here today, with your accomplished watercolors, appreciation for time, and marvelous quotes from these gifted teachers. I’ve recently put up a hummingbird feeder on our urban balcony in this temporary apartment, and quite quickly the hummingbird has already developed a rhythm with his nectar visit. His clock brings him to the feeder at 7am every morning. Fits right in with what you’re saying here. Thank you for sharing your paintings here, Janet, they are such a joy. I tried to pick out my favorite, but each one is a beauty. Happy birthday dear friend.
Thank you Jet for this lovely response. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the paintings and that you have hummers with you wherever you are….this is so important. Janet 🙂
Man, I wish I could use watercolors so precisely. These are all beautifully balanced. Well done.
Thank you very much for your lovely comment. Hope you enjoy a very creative weekend. Janet 🙂
Happy birthday, friend of mine! Ahh, yes, time, how fleeting it is, you are right, as always, we must cherish each moment best we can. Such beautiful, vibrant paintings and words, what a great gift you have. Still not receiving email notifications of your posts, came around to check on you and see I’m still missing out. Have unfollowed and refollowed, I hope that sorts the problem.xxx
Thank you….we are both beginning of the year babies. I am not sure what’s happening re your following me…but checked my list and it shows clearly that you are on it….and so any problems let me know. Meanwhile, have a lovely weekend and do keep warm Sending loads of hummingbird hugs. Janet xxxx
Amazing colors
Thank you – Janet
Beautiful images Janet and wise words. I didn’t know that about hummingbirds, but it’s so true that we need those periods of rest.
Good morning and thank you so much for your comment. Hummingbirds are such amazing little creatures….there are so many things about them that are positively extraordinary, and a state of Torpor is definitely one of them. I find that if I don’t have the sort of rest my body needs, I am not good for much…..Hope you are enjoying a creative period and that it’s not too cold. Janet 🙂 x
Deine Farben-Kombinationen gefallen mir sehr gut, Du kannst mit den Farben dem Betrachter in eine andere Welt führen. Vor allem die Kolibris und die Blumen sind ganz grosse Klasse. 🙂 Ernst
Vielen dank fur diesen lebhaften Kommentar. Janet 🙂
Janet, I’m sorry to seem late. The gremlins appear to have eaten my comment. I very much enjoyed this mindful and beautiful post. The pair of hummers is my favorite of these masterworks. Hugs on the wing!
Hi Teagan….There must be gremlins because I swear you commented and I responded….but it’s lovely to see you here always once or twice or more 🙂 Thank you – and glad you like these hummers. Janet xxx
Dear Janet–another lovely post from you. It rings particularly true for me because I have a history of abusing time–to my detriment, of course. But you give me good reminders and such restful paintings that sitting here now I am so relaxed and content, I am especially taken by the Potted Plants painting, but they are so fine. Again, happy birthday, dearest friend.
Good morning David, I find that time is always a bit of an issue, in that there never seems to be enough! Everyone is different, but I am very aware that my body clock makes me a ‘lark’ – early riser and early to bed with book 🙂 If I stray from this, I do feel the difference. I hope all is well with you and the family in Chicago and that it’s not too cold. Spring is on the way my friend. Janet 🙂
Thank you for your morning greeting, Janet. I realize that a regular schedule of sleep is a necessity for sleep hygiene. But alas my mind is so active that it doesn’t let me sleep. If there is one sentence and sentiment I express most often to myself under my breath it is, “I’m so tired’. Once I fell asleep at the podium giving a speto 6,000 people, and once on a radio show in the middle of making a point about creativity.” But I’ve been living this way for many years and am pretty productive in spit of such miserable sleep jabits..
Thank you for your morning greeting, Janet. I realize that a regular schedule of sleep is a necessity for sleep hygiene. But alas my mind is so active that it doesn’t let me sleep. If there is one sentence and sentiment I express most often to myself under my breath it is, “I’m so tired” Once I fell asleep at the podium giving a speech to 6,000 people, and once on a radio show in Boston in the middle of making a point about creativity.” But I’ve been living this way for many years and am pretty productive in spite of such miserable sleep habits..I find it rather funny, really: a man so desperate to sleep with a mind the gods never let rest.
Wonderful post and paintings, Janet!
Good morning Bette. Thank you so much for the lovely comment. Hope you have a very creative weekend. Janet 🙂 x
Wonderful post
Thank you very much – Janet 🙂
I agree. The value of time. Under-rated. We learn later. Shouldn’t spend more time with the family and knew more laughter and friendship.
Good morning and thank you so much for the comment, which I completely agree with and for re blogging this post. I really appreciate it…janet 🙂
Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Please enjoy the artwork and thoughts of a talented artist.
I really appreciate your re blogging this. Janet 🙂
You are welcome Janet. I liked this one.
Gorgeous artwork!
Thank you very much – I appreciate your taking the time to read my blog – Janet 🙂
Thank you very much – Janet 🙂
Love your work.
Thank you very much – I appreciate your taking the time to read my blog – Janet 🙂
The quotations in your post reminded me that time is perhaps the one theme most written about while being the least understood concept. Your watercolors are mesmerizing.
Thank you very much for this comment. Time is indeed our most precious commodity and yet one we seem to waste the most. Enjoy your day. Janet 🙂
Lovely opening quote on Time and so are the paintings. Lovely post ☺️☺️
Thank you very much for your comment. Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend. – Janet 🙂
You too Janet 😊
OhMyGosh!!!! Your art is so very beautiful!!! There is such creativity and freedom in your art – i love it!
Thank you very much for such a lovely comment. Janet 🙂
You’re very welcome!
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Thank you dear Oyla…have a wonderful weekend. Janet xx
Lovely and thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much for the comment and for reading my blog – Janet 🙂