Saturday, April 14, 2012

Museum Reflections

I visited one of my favorite places recently - the Lightner Museum.  It was the first time I've ever gone by myself.  I enjoyed being able to take my time and journey through the museum at my own pace.  I sat in a cove surrounded by art and began to free write.  It was very refreshing:

Classical music is playing and lifting my spirit.  The murmur of voices and scents of delicious food from the Alcazar Cafe below me are comforting.  The ballroom is so open and airy.  There's lots of light and it reflects beautifully off the dark hardwood floors.  I love open space.  I love being surrounded by antiquities and amazing architecture. 

Grand Ballroom

Glancing out a window, I look out over my favorite city, my home.  I'm feeling thankful for life.  When the world seems dark and ugly, being here reminds me that the world is still full of beauty and creativity.  I'm appreciative of history, of being able to remember other times.

I reflect on paintings, such as Woman with Necklace, and I think of simple times.  Times of leisure.  When people knew how to slow down.  This museum helps me quiet myself.  I notice my surroundings in a way that escapes me when I get caught up in the busyness of life.  I am happy here.

Woman with Necklace

14 comments:

  1. I just realized that this post (which I wrote a few weeks ago) is exactly what I needed to help me transcend my listless feeling yesterday. I allow myself to get caught up in the busyness of life way too often.

    I think today is the perfect day to quiet myself through fishing, photography & writing. I hope all my fellow bloggers enjoy their weekend.

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  2. A wonderful post and pictures,

    You too have an enjoyable week-end.

    Yvonne.

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  3. Lovely post! I love going to art galleries & museums by myself, but it's some thing I rarely do. My N post is about the Natural History Museum, so great minds think alike :)

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  4. How pleasant, I love to visit museums by myself, everyone else just wants to rush through them.

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  5. That's a beautiful painting. :)

    I love visiting museums, but I don't really get to spend as much time looking as I want to; my kids (2 and 5) are so impatient. One day, I'll go by myself and really take the time to study the exhibits.

    Have a great weekend!

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  6. Is this the Lightner musuem in St. Augustine? It's beautiful during Chrismastime when it's lit for NIghts of LIghts. My son went to Flagler college and now lives in St. A with his wife. So glad you had a quiet visit there and are feeling better.

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  7. What a gorgeous space. I love finding places like that - where you can go and be renewed and just feel that you're exactly where you ought to be in that moment. I'm glad you have a place like that. You've inspired me to go visit mine again soon. :)

    Have a lovely weekend, and great to meet you through A to Z!

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  8. Jaime, I'm so glad you took the time out to just be still...often we find ourselves like you were feeling yesterday but then have to ask ourselves what we've done to feed our soul? You did something for your soul; good for you!

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  9. I was never a fan of museums but the one you visited is beautiful. I like your writing style. Good luck for the rest of the challenge! :-)

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  10. Thanks for everyone's posts. Mare, yes it is the museum in St. Augustine. It's great that you know about this place as it is so amazing.

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  11. Lovely post. I haven't been to museums in a few years. I always loved visiting the Smithsonian

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  12. Dear Jamie, You are so-oo sweet! Thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind-hearted comment. You made me blush :) Plus, with it being Sunday yesterday, my family and I are usually up to something, so I didn't check in on blogger yesterday. I had no idea the team at A-Z mentioned me on their blog, that was until I read your comment. Thank you for letting me know. I'm really having so much fun participating in the A-Z challenge, and what an amazing team running it. I say, Blogger Friends are REAL Friends! I look forward to getting to know you and reading your blog post too! I hope the week ahead is filled with love, laughter and a bounty of God's blessings. - Kerrie (aka KC)

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  13. We are all agreed...it good to visit your favourite museum alone...

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  14. I don't think I've ever been to a museum alone. In fact, I don't think I've been to a museum since I've been out of high school. It's a good idea; maybe I should take a day soon and do that.

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