Friday

 The blue theme continues.  A little blue jug from the Loire valley ... not much use for anything except a bunch of snowdrops in the spring or a single rose bud in summer.  Otherwise it sits on the shelf just waiting!

Blue covers a whole spectrum of shades as demonstrated in this image from Wikipedia.  Feeling "blue" is a fairly common experience ... but why that particular description of this particular mood.  After all - the bright blue sky is something that has the power to cheer the spirits.  

It seems that the negative side might be associated with Greek mythology.  The god, Zeus, would create rain in his sadness and storms in anger.  Thus blue was linked to this kind of depressing weather.  In Germany it appears that if a person is described as "blue" they're under the influence of alcohol!

However, in the history of English sailing ships, if an officer or the captain was lost at sea they returned to port flying blue flags and with a blue line painted along the entire length of the ship. 

If it weren't so late in the evening I could explore many other uses of the term "blue" and begin to list all the countries who use it as the main colour in their national flags and emblems. 

This year the Church of Ireland Directory uses a blue sleeve ... that's of no interest to anyone ... but I thought that I was going to be stuck for a 365Project photograph and snapped it just in case!  As it happens the vase from Chinon turned out to be more pleasing. 

A prayer from the Epiphany set for when we're feeling blue. 

Almighty God, 

whose Son revealed in signs and miracles 

the wonder of your saving presence: 

Renew your people with your heavenly grace, 

and in all our weakness 

sustain us by your mighty power; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer.