Written by When I was kid, there were so many things that would grant me wishes. Whether it was wishing on a shooting star, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, or blowing off the seeds of a dandelion in summer. Closing my eyes, I would dream of something special, something I wanted to come true. I can’t remember all of my wishes, any more than I can remember all of the many times I made them, but I what I do remember is the thrill. That thrill of the possible. The idea that dreams actually do come true. Sometimes, I’d get lucky and something I requested would actually happen, but most of the time, those dreams just floated off into the wind. I didn’t worry that they didn’t come true right away. I’m sure some are still floating out there, and maybe, just maybe they’ll come true one day. Unless it was that dream of being an astronaut as I’ve grown up to have a rather cruel fear of heights. But in truth, most of the fun was simply in the wishing.
When it comes to blowing seeds off of dandelions, the goal was to strip it down to the stem in one breath. This comes from folklore, when people used it as a way to determine whether or not they were in a good relationship. Sort of like the “he loves me, he loves me not” act of picking off flower petals. This was far more efficient as if you could simply knock off all the seeds in one blow, it was deemed that you would have a passionate lover. I guess lung capacity was the real key to a good relationship in those days. If a few were left, then your lover had a few reservations about your relationship. And if there were many still clinging to the stem when you opened your eyes, well, that meant you were not loved at all or should probably stop smoking. Some believed that you could use this technique to communicate good thoughts to an absent lover by blowing the seeds in their general direction. Each little feathery seed then floats away, carrying your thoughts and dreams to that someone special.
It’s actually been years since I’ve wished on a dandelion. I still have the urge to blow all the seeds off when I see them, but that childlike urge to stop and wish has waned a bit. Part of me still wants to believe these things are truly possible. To throw ration to the wind and try to make something magical happen. It wasn’t that long ago was it? Has all that belief in magic already turned into the adult compromise called “hope”? I’d like to think that there’s still a part of me that believes dreams really do come true. Not simply wanting things to happen, but knowing that they actually will, with that same childlike certainty I had so many years ago. So, yes, you’ll occasionally still find me stopping and closing my eyes when I see that shooting star. And I will once again bend down to pluck up that feathery dandelion. So many things have to change as we get older. So many things we can’t control. But one thing is certain. I’ll never grow old enough to stop believing that it’s still worth taking a moment to pause… and make a wish.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Phthalocyanine Blue, Indian Yellow, Dioxazine Purple, Phthalo. Green Light, Burnt Sienna, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon with black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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I still love making wishes on these – even though I know it is spreading seeds to grow more dandelions – LOL! Gorgeous Doodlewash! So different than your normal with a background!! Beautious!
Thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕 So glad you liked this, it was a bit of an experiment! hehe And yeah, dandelions are a whole different thing when you have a lawn to take care of! Lol
Beautiful! Beautiful! I love this.
Aww thanks so much, Trav!! 😃💕
No problem. 😊😊😊
This is so lovely! I was totally bowled over by the sky, so warm for all its blueness. I don’t remember making many wishes on dandelions, but certainly remember the birthday candle moments. I wonder if you get multiple wishes with those special relighting candles? 😉 I think I’m making more wishes now than I ever did as a cynical child! Keep on dreamin’! <3
Thanks so much, Jacob! 😃💕 Glad ya liked this! And hmmm… so you were cynical as a child, eh? hehe… Yeah, I would like to think that those blasted relighting candles just mean more wishes. It would be a cruel joke if that weren’t the case. Lol
I love your pretty doodlewash Charlie! Different for sure having a blue background and rarely you paint flowers this is really pretty! And I do my wishes all the time when I see a falling star or blow the seeds of a dandelion! I love to believe and think that dreams do come true! <3 🙂
Thanks, Carolina! 😃💕 Yeah, painting flowers isn’t really my thing, but it was fun to try something new! And yay to believing that dreams really do come true!
Yes it is always good to try new things and also experiments new ways! You did good I posted my Dandelions on FB group I made it with only two colors check it out when you can I would like to know what you think! 🙂
Just saw it! It’s gorgeous! Love the limited palette! 😍(Facebook makes it tough to see everything in a group, even when you’re the admin)
Thank you for checking it Charlie I am glad you like it! Yes I love the limited palette too and I want to do more 🙂 maybe we should make the theme of next month Adventure if you haven’t decided yet for February it’s a suggestion it would be very interesting to see the results! <3
Yeah, it would! I actually thought about that, but wondered if people would think it was too well… limiting! hehe
Ahah right! It can be a challenge for some but you never know it also can be a great learning experience or to improve skills especially for who never tried 😉
Awsome painting. 😃👍👍💖
Thanks so much! 😃💕
You’re welcome!😃
oh ! Magical ! How I love the way you write and co relate it with your doodles Charlie ! you have a sensitive heart of an earnest artist ! I loved reading this post of yours and made a wish right here on your drawn dandelion ! i loveeee this one Magical !
Awww that’s such a sweet comment! 😊💕 Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you enjoy my stories! May all your wishes come true!!
you have a gift 🙂
Such lovely sentiment expressed here, Charlie. And in blog filled with excellent writing, this is one of your best. My childhood was also filled with dandelions – I’m certain the bounty of this weed all over the neighborhood had some little bit due to me improving my lung capacity. Buttercups under a chin, daisies woven into a chain, wishes on first stars and all the candles on a birthday cake – all childhoods should be wealthy with such moments.
Awww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 So many things to wish for and so many things to wish upon! Childhood was such a magical time. I just hope we can all carry much of that forward.
Yikes, I meant to tell you how wonderful the painting is, with the blue sky peeking through the fluffy seeds. and some of them flying off to do the wisher’s bidding.
Hehe… thanks!! 😃💕 This one was kind of experimental… I realized I should have had more a plan jumping in, but I never really plan these paintings. 😊
Gorgeous, look at all those wishes, waiting to be wished upon. Magic ❤️
I don’t wish on dandelions anymore either, but I still wish on stars…(K)
Excellent! I figure as long as we keep on wishing, that’s the most important thing! 😉💕
So glad to have read your beautiful post!I too remember making wishes while seeing shooting stars whenever possible.May all your wishes come true!Again,thank you for the lovely post.I look forward to reading your posts.
Awww thanks so much for the lovely comment! I’m so happy you enjoyed this! I hope all of your wishes come true as well my friend! 😃💕
This was a sweet post; you have a way to transcend us to a time of awe and wonder… Followed by your art of perfection!
What a sweet comment!! Thank you so much for that, Jenn! 😃💕
It comes easy when its the truth.
Love that blue background Charlie… and I still like making a wish especially on my birthday if I get lucky to have a candle to blow out that is… 🎂 Funny how silly it seems now but so fun as a kid! 😍 I used to take walk at the lake to a bridge and throw 3 rocks along with 3 wishes into the water below. Somehow it always gave me hope. And I believe we are never too old for hope! 🌈
Reblogged this on Another Kind Of Grass.
Yes! Wishing on all kinds of things is one of my childhood memories, too. And I still do it! Lovely painting.
Yay! Here’s to always stopping to make a wish! 😃💕