In The Still of The Night

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Candlelight and The Still of The Night

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My night owlish tendencies took over this past week. Day was Night and Night was Day, but I suspect I liked it that way for a bit.

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Taking advantage of this quiet time, I decided to take some photos by candlelight!. I'm sure my neighbours think I am bonkers skulking around in the middle of the night, but really I enjoy this time alone. As I still owe you five 'Happy Things', here are some 'Still of The Night' happy things, scripted during the wee small hours.

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Candelight

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Flickering flames that make even the harshest surroundings seems familiar and comforting

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Late Night Movies

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Old Classic movies full of laughter, dance and sometimes intrigue

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Soothing Tunes

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The soulful stirring music of Cole Porter and earthy tones of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Nat King Cole

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The Sofa

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Curled up on the sofa reading or just listening to the small noises of the night

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Sleep

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When it finally beckons, long slumbering rest

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Now whilst we are on the subject of Happy Things, I want to thank all of you who left me such encouraging comments on my last post. Suzette and I were thrilled to read each and every one. As I still haven't distributed my recent award stash [here], I'd like to give them to ALL of you! You really make my day and it is just too hard to choose a few.


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You're the best!!!

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Julie b

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IMAGE SOURCE: Being Ruby - created by candlelight.
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30 comments:

Anonymous said...

A most delightful post, Julie! I love your idea to take photos by candlelight - it looks amazing. And Nat King Cole? Perfection.

Have a Happy,
Zuzu

Blondie's Journal said...

You make the best of your insomnia, Julie. I find nothing wrong with skulking around taking pictures in the wee hours of the night. You are an original... never boring.

I love your 'happy things'. With each one I nodded my head, thinking I am going to stay up late and do these things tonight. They sound so fuzzy and comforting.

When my children were young, night was my refuge. Oh, to have a few hours just for me. Now that they are grown, well young adults, I get a bit lonely and feel forgotten. Time to find those happy things...

Congratulations on your most deserving awards, Julie! :-)

xoxo
Jane

Blondie's Journal said...

Almost forgot...your candlelight photos are absolutely beautiful!!

xoxo
Jane

Sue said...

I wish I felt as you do. I have a real fear of staying alone overnight. Actually, fear isn't a big enough word for it. I was okay when I had the kids in the house, alone...can't do it. I'm not even afraid of someone getting me...just the alone part. Luckily, I don't have to worry about it often. I love the photos and I actually love being up alone at night as long as someone else is sleeping in the house somewhere.

Sue

rjerdee said...

Oh, Julie/Ruby, you DO know how to find the silver linings in everything. Silvery photos, silvery candlelight, silvery thoughts.

Jen Beaudet said...

Wow! Those photos by candlelight are awesome! They have such a great quality but I can't think of the words I'm looking for.
I like sleep too much to stay awake in the wee hours. I'm almost always in bed asleep by 11:00! Take care Julie! :)-Jennifer

Les Cotrions said...

Ciao Julie! You had a faboulous time during the night! I understand you...I love staying alone and doing whatever I want... and when everybody sleep...just perfect!
Big hugs!
Vale

erin's art and gardens said...

oh so beautiful!! how DO you create such gorgeous images without using photoshop!!?? so creative and talented you are! so, in my kinda twisted thinking...i was happy to find out about your sleeping problem, because i was comforted knowing you were awake in the middle of the night like i am. but then i realized, living in different hemispheres, your day is my night and vice versa, so really we aren't awake together. does that make sense? sorry , i am sleep deprived.........
zzzzzzzzzzzzz
erin

btw...who cares what the neighbors think!
AND...YOU are the best.

Mise said...

When you put it like that, I'm tempted to do a night-shift of living. The problem is that I'd have to do the day shift too, so after one night of glorious peace I'd just be a chocolate-eating wreck. I like how The Sofa takes its rightful leading role in your scenario. The pirate ships are superb!

desde my ventana said...

I love Cole Porter and all the movies that take his music:The Gay Divorcee with a delicius Ginger....
Thanks you too for yours comments and visits to my blog,
Nice friday,
DMV

Anne Marie said...

beautifully said Julie..........so nice to visit you again

Berta F said...

....¡¡¡¡ Hola Julie ... tu blog es el más especial para mi .... siempre es diferente y muy original .... eres muy creativ ..¡¡¡¡ fantástica la foto con el el barco ....¡¡¡¡ Un abrazo ... Berta ...¡¡¡¡

Carole said...

I can identify with all 5 of those happy things. The simple joys of life. I love the way you edited that first picture but the second one makes me feel like I'm sitting there with you watching the glow of the candle in that mercury glass votive. I feel the most alive at night when all my senses are awake.
It's nice to know that I'm not the only night owl! even though we experience it at different times:)) lol
xo,
Carole

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

I love the still of the night! Great photograph and good timing, haha..., I've got a post on ships!

Jane said...

Yes I love all those too. Especially sleep. I wonder if I will ever ever catch up on all I am owed by my children!! but Valerian really helps. Love the sailing ship image. Have a fantastic weekend xoxo

desde my ventana said...

Today I have received the prize HAPPY NEW YEAR of hands of Berta, authoress of the blog TOILE DE JOUY .Now I have to transmit it to other 7 blogs ,and I have chosen yours between the 7. I hope that you accept it and do not suppose any problem.
Thank you for all your commentaries on my blog, they have been a source of joy and encourage for me while two months that I take among you.
A big hug,
DMV

e said...

Ok, we were definitely separated at birth! ;)Every one of your happy things is mine, as well! Thank you for reminding me, Julie. These are 'places' we need to visit regularly. Reminds me of a song written by Steve McDonald (NZ)called Light From A Distant Shore...

There's a place i go to
where i need some shelter from the storm
Where none may find me
Yet tomorrow i'll return my soul reborn.

Gorgeous artwork, Julie, as always. They remind me of the sea shanties i've been listening to. :)

simon said...

Interesting! I was thinking about your comments re candle light. We go out to Kinchega which is a historic sheep station. The old shearing shed is HUGE and Maalie ( a blogging mate) and us spent New years eve in the wool shed singing old songs and having a beer with some French visitors using only candles.... as I lookied down the shed at midnight I could "see" the old shearings working, as bats flew past.

Such is the effect of candles!

cate said...

Sailing by candlelights...it sounds very idyllic I hope your year doesnt become to busy to soon :) Cate

the old boathouse said...

Love the second pic. I agree its fun to be a night owl as long as you don't have to pay for it the next day.cheers Katherine

Pooch Purple Reign said...

ruby,
i love late nights
ive had an actual job these past few weeks and i cant figure out how people start jobs so early. i start at 11 and i can hardly get out the door in time... makes my brain hurt.
great photos as always
~pooch.

count it all joy said...

Oh, what a perfectly, dreamy, silvery collage of photos and words. I don't so much fall into sweet slumber as collapse into an exhaustion-induced coma, and like you it tends to be in the wee small hours. I think I'll follow your cue and put on some Ella and Nina...lovely friends to have on the night-shift. Meredy xo.

... said...

I could write the same, beautiful and inspiring. Nice times spent here.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Such a lovely post! I was puttering around myself this morning at 2:30! Night Owls! I can get so much done then! No phones, no doorbells...just quiet.

Angie Muresan said...

Julie, every time I come for a visit I'm in awe at the beautiful life you've made for yourself.
Gorgeous photos and delightful list, lovely Julie. Wishing you as lovely a weekend as you've had a week. And congratulations on your awards!

Susan said...

I have withdrawal symptoms when I don't get my Ruby fix - how sad am I - need to be more creative in my own life. Love what you do with photos - do you want to run a tutorial??
Love your thoughts and how you express them. Thanks for being you.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Night and Day....Cole Porter, great music Julie!!! I also am a Nightowl...love the nighttime...the candlelight, the peacefulness and the stillness of it all!!! Much can be achieved until slumber takes over...A wonderful post...Congratulations on the well deserved Awards...Have a great weekend, Dzintra♥x

Roberta said...

lady of the night, you create such beauty..xo

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

I'm always staying up through the night, Julie. I have been doing just that this week, as I'm watching the Australian Open which starts in the U.K. at midnight !!
Good job my children ar grown up and I don't work !!
I really LOVE your photograph of the Tall ship. My brother-in-law sails on them. You have given it a very mysterious finish and it looks very surreal, with the votive in front of it.
A great list of things that make you happy. They would all make me happy as well. XXXX

nevin said...

it looks amazing..