​The color is mostly associated with the natural world in plants.  Chartreuse is lively and bright. The color pairs well with other vibrant colors like fuchsia and turquoise. Apple green and pear green are commonly used to describe the color Chartreuse.  When combined with its complementary color of red violet a bright and vibrant color scheme is created.  Also known as lime green the color reminds one of spring green plant buds.   Tropical combinations are flamingo pink and lime green.  Did you know that Carthusian monks concoct the alcoholic cordial Chartreuse?

In early March 2020 I took a trip to Bisbee, Arizona with girlfriends. We stayed at the Letson Lofts and had dinner at Cafe Roka. It was the last time I have seen these girlfriends since the pandemic came a week later. I am looking forward to better times ahead. I miss my friends.  

Wall of art in Bisbee

​As far back as I can remember there has always been a poem, a rhyme, or a song swimming around in my head with the word blue in the lines. Blue is used to illustrate a mood, feeling or sentiment.

Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn

Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly
Lavender’s green
When you are King, dilly dilly
I shall be Queen.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet;
And so are you.

She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night –Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris

Don’t it make my brown eyes blue –Crystal Gayle

Blue moon
You saw me standing there without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own –Richard Rodgers and Lawrenz Hart

Love is like a dying ember only memories remain
And through the ages I remember
Blue eyes crying in the rain –Fred Rose

The tables are empty
The dance floor is deserted
You play the same love songs
It’s the tenth time you’ve heard it.
That’s the beginning just one of the clues
But you’re on the right track for 
Learnin’ the Blues –Frank Sinatra

I got my thrill on blueberry hill –Al Lewis and Larry Stock

Blue, blue windows behind the stars –Neil Young

Well, it's one for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to get ready,
Now go, cat, go.
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes.—Roy Orbison

As I was walking away
I heard her say over my shoulder
We’ll meet again someday on the avenue
Tangled up in blue – Bob Dylan

Blue, songs are like tattoos
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
or let me sail away
Hey Blue, There is a song for you –Joni Mitchell

As far back as I can remember Christmastime is a time of music and singing Christmas carols. I made a list of holiday music which is meaningful to me. Since I am a freak about holiday music, there were a lot more albums I could have added but decided to spare you. The list is in alphabetical order and is not based on my favorites. My favorites are A Charlie Brown Christmas, December, Light of the Stable and Simply Christmas.   

​A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio
A Christmas Album by James Taylor
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
A Very She & Him Christmas by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward
Christmas by Michael Bublé
Christmas Songs by Diana Krall
Christmas with the Rat Pack 
Cool Yule by Bette Midler
December by George Winston
Light of the Stable by Emmylou Harris
Merry Christmas Baby by Rod Stewart
Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey
Miracles The Holiday Album by Kenny G
My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli
Simply Christmas by Leslie Odom Jr.
Songs for the Season by Lyle Lovett
When my heart finds Christmas by Harry Connick Jr. 
Women of Christmas in the Garden of Lilith 

A Charlie Brown Christmas
​by Vince Guaraldi Trio
released in 1965 this album is always a pleasure to listen to all year round. ​

A Christmas Album by James Taylor released in 2004. I purchased this as a CD at a Hallmark card store. His version of Deck the Halls is wonderful. 

A Christmas Gift for You by Phil Spector - this album came out in the mid 1960s. My father brought the album home one December in 1966 and it was an instant family favorite. I always loved the album cover too. My sister and me always danced to Sleigh Ride by the Ronette's. Too bad about Phil. 

A Very She & Him Christmas by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward - this one is fun is a great cocktail hour addition. Their version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is delightfully fun. 
​

Christmas by Michael Buble - this one is great. Santa Baby is tops! Put a Rolex under the tree for me!

Christmas Songs by Diana Krall - is she just the coolest woman on the planet? This is jazzed up music to listen to for cocktail hour. 

Christmas with the Rat Pack - you have to add some Frank Sinatra with a little bit of Dean and a dash of Sammy Davis Jr. to your playlist don't you? 
​

Cool Yule - Bette Midler - Divine Miss M can sing and covers some old favorites. From a Distance is the stellar song on the album.  

December by George Winston - I first purchased this album in the early 1980s and have replaced it on CD and iTunes since then. It is officially holiday season when I listen to it in December. I cannot say enough about Joy his version of Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach. I dance around the room like a snowflake. It is the most spiritually uplifting song. 

Light of the Stable by Emmylou Harris - This has been a favorite since the album came out decades ago. Her bluegrass Christmas Time's A-Comin' makes if official and Little Town of Bethlehem is pure and sweet so is her The First Noel. Her voice is sweet and soothing. 

Merry Christmas Baby by Rod Stewart
​I remember going into a shop in Scottsdale in 2013 and hearing this music and went right out and purchased this CD. 

Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey
This album is probably one of the most sold Christmas albums along side White Christmas. She is darling here and All I Want for Christmas is the song we all long to hear.  

Miracles The Holiday Album
by Kenny G 
This album came out in the 1980s and has been a holiday staple for years. 

My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli
​It's Andrea Bocelli - there is nothing else to say. 

Simply Christmas by Leslie Odom Jr.
This is the most recent Christmas music I own. You know him from the musical Hamilton. His voice is silky velvet. All of the songs are perfectly performed however, First Noel is my favorite. I will just say it, this is my favorite Christmas album. ​

Songs for the Season by Lyle Lovett Although there are not too many songs on this one which I purchased on iTunes a few years ago, this is a lot of fun. 

When My Heart Finds Christmas
​by Harry Connick Jr.
​What Are you Doing New Year's Eve is the one song on the album I look forward to listening to every year. It's the last track.  
​

Women of Christmas in the Garden of Lilith by various female artists
I purchased this CD at a Starbuck's store many years ago. The covers are by artist you know like Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins, Karla Bonoff, Christine McVie and Victoria Williams.  
​

These are arrangements made while taking classes with Ikebana instructor Ping Wei. 

​Wildflowers

Let us not plant hate seeds in our city.
Instead replace them with wildflower seeds.
Wildflowers are very pretty.
How about drive-by flower seed tossing along our way?
And stop the drive-by shootings each day.
Love—not hate is the message to be said.
Flowers for the living have more beauty and meaning.
Than wreaths for the dead.

written by my mother Patricia Colbert
April 1995

This is my favorite holiday season music. The song Joy which is from Bach's Joy of Man's Desiring reminds me of snowflakes dancing. It is so beautiful. 

Christmas cookies I have baked over the years.