Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Hardware

John and I are a little in love with the light in our house, especially at the day's extremes. Sometimes, around sunset, I'll catch him standing still, head cocked as though he's listening for something. But I know better. He's watching the light work its magic. I do the same thing.

If you peeked in our windows in the early morning or late day you might see one of us with a camera, following the sunlight around as though it were a butterfly and the camera a net, attempting to catch light as it flits from faucet to hinge to windowsill.

photo by John Sandel

Of course the light has been here longer than the house's 85 years. These old doorknobs aren't old after all. Amazing, really, that something so fleeting as light comes all the way across the solar system and finds its way through our windows to touch these inconsequential things.

24 comments:

Latino Heritage said...

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home. Especially when it has so many lovely parts to it. Others may call it humble, but sometimes light makes our homes our castles.

J.J. in L.A. said...

I've always had a small lamp next to my computer keyboard and I've always hung a crystal pendant from it. The way the summer afternoon sunlight shines in the kitchen window makes the crystal spread a rainbow of color across my walls. After 25 years of living here, it still fascinates me.

Shell Sherree said...

Serene!

Dirk said...

Your mind's on the Larger Context, it seems...two references to solar systems, ours and others, in three days. Personally I like that a lot. Most people never think about such stuff.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Shell.

Good morning! I hope my comment shows up. Blogger is having an issue with comments--I've received some nice ones in my email but they're not showing up here. I've reported it to Blogger and apparently I'm not the only one. I hope they take care of it soon.

Bellis said...

I just love the thought of the two of you chasing Tinkerbelle around the house!

I have just bought a Rainbowmaker, which attaches to a window. It has small solar panels that capture the sun and set some cogs in motion to turn a crystal. The sun only shines directly into one window of my house for just one hour a day so I sit in the room waiting for the rainbows to start, then watch in fascination as they make their patterns on the walls, ceiling and floor. It's magical.

Petrea Burchard said...

Of course as soon as I posted my comment, everyone else's comments showed up here!

Pascal Jim said...

HARDWARE...Homer Simpson "hmmmmmmm"
In my yout I worked for a hardware wholesaler. Big, BIG building, bins, bins, stuff,stuff! A kids dream come true..

Ms. P., your door hardware caught me eye...the reward, is good stuff never goes our of style..Tks..PJ

P.S.--Pictures good!.

Petrea Burchard said...

Glad you like the pictures, PJ. And I'm kind of the same way about hardware, especially old things. And office supplies, except they have to be new. Just love the stuff.

-K- said...

I love these. I hope you do more.

(And yes indeed, Blogger is having "comments" issues. Not to be a Pollyanna, but I'm always impressed with how smoothly it runs, day in, day out.)

Petrea Burchard said...

More hardware, K? Not a bad idea. I like staying in on these gray days.

And yes, when you think about it, it's a wonder Blogger runs at all. The web itself is a wonder.

pasadenapio said...

We're so fortunate to have resources such as Crown City Hardware where you can get this kind of hardware replicated/replaced if it comes to that, altough your fixtures look to be in darn good shape.

Greg Sweet said...

Hey, wait a minute! John's photo gave me an idea. Maybe the Earth rotates on an axis, like a doorknob, whereas only half of the planet is exposed to sunlight at any one time. This would account for the difference between day and night. Yeah, that's it. And if the Moon got caught behind the Earth, like where that knob shadow is on the door, it would seem to disappear, as it occasionally does.

Greg Sweet said...

Oh, yeah. Yours is nice too, P. But with that skeleton key in the lock, I can't see what's behind the door.

TheChieftess said...

Love the top door!!! You are a lucky girl!!! Great house, guy, and pooch!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, PIO. Of course I don't show you the clunky stuff.

Greg, you missed your calling. Hey, maybe I'll try a keyhole shot.

Thanks, Chieftess. I know. Counting those blessings.

Katie said...

Amazing light. Not that your doorknob isn't lovely on its own, but with that light it's stunning. (FYI, glad I'm not the only one with comments issues -- blogger ate most of my comments from yesterday!)

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, I'm hearing that from all the blogs I visit, Katie. Bummer. It seems to be straightened out. I hope so because we have a big blog event locally tomorrow!

John Sandel said...

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Dina said...

These are magical pictures. I can see why you follow such light.

Margaret said...

Such pretty pictures.

Ms M said...

Wonderful photos! I love watching how light catches ordinary things around us and makes them magical.

I have sporadic internet service until early next week. So it's fun to catch up on your posts, (especially all the interpretations of Boz's butt :))

Petrea Burchard said...

These doorknobs have been so popular I'm going to do Phillips screws next.

Greg Sweet said...

Oh, good. I HATE flathead screws.