Morning Glory Studio

moments | april 2016

                We had a glorious string of days filled with sunshine ... and the flowers, trees and I loved it!  Since I am working on a a new quilt ( a challenge due in September) I took advantage of the weather and got many photos of the vivid flowers and blue skies.

Baseball of course resumed - even as I type, N is listening to the Nats - and  I did a lot of gathering with both family and stitching friends.

I attended a quilt show and captured a few other photos of Baltimore Album Quilts, made by others, for inspiration.

My sister had outpatient surgery - kidney stone removal-  on the 19th so my niece - her daughter Cissy- and I spent the day in the waiting room. My sister was a much happier camper after the procedure (pain gone). She has another procedure for her left side in May.

Loved lunch on the 25th sitting at a table near a "roaring" fire...and no, it was not that cold -yet! As this last week in April progressed, the weather turned decidedly cooler which is A-OK, 'cause along with cold came rain and I suffered less from my allergy. In fact, I am much wider awake these days. Thanks to everyone who wished me better days; they have arrived! 

I began April fully intending to post more regularly and frequently...and I debated about posting today - the end of April. I decided to go ahead for two reasons:

1. I intend to considerably step up my blogging in May with the anticipation that I'll resume a routine, i.e, create the habit... and 
2. Today's post is my 800th!

So, with that, I wish all a fond adieu and a Happy May Day!

Cheers~

watercolor wednesday | short on energy...

            The pollen count has been sky high for the past few days...and my allergy to the oak,  especially, really knocked me for a loop...as evidenced above. This is me, Sunday about 7:35 am ...and I'd had a full, good night's sleep! I had about as much energy as a wet noodle through Monday. On Tuesday, I stayed inside all day. Today has been a different story...it has rained and I have a lot more energy. Am I ever grateful!

I think I'm ready to tackle the world! Or at least, take a walk outside.

Cheers~

ten on tuesday | movies that he watches again & again & again...

 

(last episode of Downton Abbey*) 

    I am not a true movies aficionado...but Norman is! When I read todays's Ten onTuesday prompt, I knew I'd have a really hard time coming up with 5 (I actually only reached 3)...but, I.knew. Norman would be able to list at least a couple dozen...and I was totally right...in fact, he ticked off 26 in about 3 minutes...certainly, faster than I could write...so, here's our list. The first three are mine and the rest, his...

1. Working Girl...I actually like the closing song best and even have the CD of the movie
2. Mrs. Doubtfire ... Robin Williams - genius
3. Almost anything Doris Day made...love her clothes, her singing and the stories

Would The Golden Girls count? And now, onto Norman's list: the first seven I'd guessed before he weighed in:

1. Treasure of Sierra Madre
2. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
3. The Sting
4. Lost Weekend
5. Zapata
6. Casablanca
7. Twelve Angry Men
8. Save the Tiger
9. Roaring Twenties
10. Wall Street (Michael Douglas)
11. Picnic
12. Route 9
13. Godfather 1 and 3
14. Sling Blade
15. City Hall
16. Carlito's Way
17. Gone with the Wind
18. Network
19. Jungle Book (original)
20. Place in the Sun
21. Teahouse of the August Moon
22. Notorious
23. North by Northwest
24. Cabin in the Sky
25. Green Pastures
26. Shawshank Redemption

Everyday, he culls the listings, especially TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and if any/all of these are being shown, one can bet he'll plan to watch...unless of course a favorite baseball team is playing. And when I say to him: "but you've seen (insert movie title) a zillion times..." his response is always "Yes, but not in its entirety." "Sure" I say...

Any of these on your list? Others? Be sure to visit Carole's blog for more ideas. Popcorn anyone? 

Cheers~

 

*Fortunately there was no competition that night. ;-)).

watercolor wednesday | bright and cheerful redux...

                    We're having a string of sunny days through Sunday, at least ---so the weatherman promises. Still a tad on the cool side, low 60s but no.one. is complaining...the days are bright and best of all, there is not the humidity. thankfully. (Washington DC humidity is. the.worst.)

I spent several hours wandering IKEA's displays. Always so interesting what they do with limited space. I was looking for a desk-type chair...and I'm still eyeing the standup desks. There are two models and I like both...I think  with either I will need someone to  help me assemble it - Norman's eyesight isn't good enough for the task or otherwise he'd be perfect. But there's no rush. 

On my way home, I stopped at the Franciscan Monastery and was delighted with the gorgeous array of flowers on the grounds. The tulips especially got one's attention. Bright, vivid colors and the flowers themselves were straight at attention. In chatting with a few others who were snapping photos, we all agreed that we didn't remember such a spectacular display of tulips in previous years. 

T'was a great day... nothing special but one that I shall remember fondly. Here's hoping your day was/is as bright and cheerful as those tulips.

Cheers~

 

ten on tuesday | D.E.A.R* ...

 

 

 

Today's Ten on Tuesday prompt is one that's lots of fun: what books have caused you to totally shut out the world and read?

1. I think for starters, I have to put Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterman at the top of my list. It's fiction and is so beautifully written I couldn't/didn't put it down over a decade ago and pretty much stopped reading fiction, save an occasional title. Just didn't think any other title would/could measure up...
2. Over the weekend, I started Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air; it is biography and a very potent read. Kalanithi, a gifted neurosurgeon, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and started this eloquent memoir during his last  year of life.
3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I am re-reading this - again for the first time - it's one of my favorites. I also recently started  
4. Help, Thanks Wow and finished her
5. Stitches  . Both titles are short -100 pages or so, and pithy Anne Lamott!
6. Speaking of short and pithy, one has to include Mary Oliver - any and all of her poetry. 
7. For something on the light side, I've also decided to re-read Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket. It's been several years since I've cracked it open and I think it's time to reacquaint myself.
8. I'm listening to Hamilton, the original Broadway Cast recording and telling myself: time to delve into Hamilton and acquaint/reacquaint myself to the "Founding Fathers."  The lyrics are very interesting and a good read, too! Perhaps one day, I'll get to see the performance---when and if ever the prices come down! Way down!
9. I've been dragging my heels on A Man Called Ove ; started in February and it's readable enough but my reaction to Ove is one of irritation. I seldom, if ever, finish a book if it doesn't resonate...but, I think I will finish this one, in my own sweet time. I suppose my reaction is au contraire from that of other readers... And last (yet hardly least), I have a pile of  magazines:
10. La Vie Claire: The Art of Living A Creative Life. In publication 2004 - 2010, sadly, the magazine "bit the dust" but occasionally I thumb through and feast/bask on the gorgeous photos and inspiring stories. I suspect one reason the magazine folded is it was without adverstisements.

I have a pile of about 20 books on my reading table in various stages...and looking forward to adding more suggestions as I read others' take on this prompt. Please check them out here and also, share a title or two.

Have a great *D. E. A. R. - Drop Everything And Read - life!

Cheers~

watercolor wednesday & 10 on tuesday ...

            There are somedays that just don't seem to go "right" and no matter what your plans are, everything is topsy-turvy. If, on such days, I find myself out of sorts, I'll do the following - any and all:

1. Go for a walk...
2. Sit and read...
3. Write in my journal...
4. Start decluttering a bookcase, closet, quilting project...
5. Move furniture...
6. Drink a cuppa tea or more...
7. Sit and stitch... or stare out the window...
8. Watch "The Golden Girls" (if I can find during the day)...
9. Listen to my favorite music: Mozart; Classical & Great Standards (vocal/jazz)...
10. All of the above and maybe start all over again...or go to bed if it's bedtime - 10-ish... 

Fortunately, out-of-sorts days are few and far between for me and I hope that's true for you too. But if not: visit this week's Ten on Tuesday post, hosted by Carole, for more ideas. 

Cheers~

 

WAHOO! ... seeing a light at the end of the tunnel...

                    WAHOO! I am, for all intent and purposes, finished with the right and left borders of the Flower Garden quilt! The major work: 28 flowers and 24 leaves are done.  I have a few minor stitches to make: add a circle here n' there; stitch a tip of a stem...small stuff and about 25 circles to make and attach...but that's assembly work. Next, I am tackling the top and bottom border and my first order of business will be to trace the pattern design onto the fabric and then, select the fabrics for each element. That's my favorite part  - so, look forward to the progress on that front.

I have also decided that I am NOT going to make 1,139 1" sashing and border squares - that would take another decade; instead, I found a yellow (my favorite color) ombré fabric that I think will work...at least that's my plan at this point. I don't have to make that decision today. Rather, I just plan to bask in my accomplishment ( I started this project three years ago March 2013!)...and stitch on! 

                WAHOO! Time for a celebration and a glass of wine (later today)! What are you celebrating this month!

 

Cheers~

moments | march 2016

                Earlier in March I shared the saga of my Mac OS El Capitan 3-day upgrade. I am delighted that everything, so far,  works just fine and I heart  working with the new Photos app on all my Apple devices. (Mary assured me it would happen and she was so on target. Thanks, Mary.) Despite the fact that the weather people are uttering the S-flake word as a Sunday possibility,  today is April 1 , the sun is shining and the world is turning greener every day. 

March had its moments of cold and we even awoke to morning snow on the 4th; mostly, though, we had some brilliant blue skies - many filled with jet trails - and  gorgeous color from flowers: tulip trees and forsythia and a sunflower in a floral arrangement at Starbucks. I visited Zeke's at least three times in the month and on the 8th, it was warm enough to sit outside! 

Friends (three different groups) and I met several times during the month for stitching and/or to share our recent reads. On the 13th, my nieces, sister and I gathered to make vision boards - ala Ali Edwards' One Little Word.  My oldest grand niece, Dolly - the bébé's mom - celebrated her 30th birthday on the 21st and cut off her hair that weekend. I was at the beauty parlor with her and photobombed the photo (I was taking the picture).

We saw the last episode of Downton Abbey - sorry to see it end but I think it was wrapped up A-OK. A friend lent me seasons 1-3 to watch (I came to the program late) so, I'll catch up this spring. There were, of  course, lots of bunnies this month: one for the bébé to read, one to eat and one to look at.

We were all on pins and needles with this past Monday's "shelter in place" event on Capitol Hill; my niece works there and we are all so grateful that she and others were safe. T'was rather harrowing.

I am glad it is April ...it's always great to welcome a new month and I look forward to sharing this one with you. Watch this space...

Cheers~