Morning Glory Studio

the trick's on me...

 

(seen on my neighborhood walk)

 

circa 1951

            We lived in Muskegon MI in housing similar to the old Greenbelt MD homes - ours though were only one level row homes. In between the rows were  large expanses of lawn ...and lots of trees. One neighbor on the end of our row had spent the better part of the day raking /burning huge piles leaves.

Our last stop -  a home occupied by an older man, a recluse of sorts - certainly not very friendly whenever we saw him out. We knocked - no answer. Again - the same. So, we soaped his screens...and just as he came to the door to get after us, we ran, lickety-split...'cause we knew we were naughty- not because we were afraid.

In my haste to get away, I stepped into the pile of smoldering leaves...and upon feeling the heat, threw my bag of loot into the air - with most of it landing you know where... Limping I made it home, in considerable distress. No all-night drugstores in those days so I had to make do with a homemade remedy - a baking soda poultice I believe. 

I don't recall that I ever shared the fact that I'd been naughty with my parents and dared my sister to say a word (she was younger and I could do that, of course)... and I don't know that I ever went trick or treating again in my life. For some reason,  the aura just ended that Halloween...

We rarely have trick or treaters in our neighborhood ... yours?  And how 'bout those Cubs! Go Cubs Go!

Cheers~

  

PS. Strictly a 180 degree turn: If you're interested  in NaBloPoMo, more info here... You don't have to join the blogroll but you can download the logo and also join the Facebook group to get the daily prompts. 

 

 

fri-yay: the eyes have it...

 

 (U of MD /College Park Marching Band practicing for football game)

During  the past 24 hours, I've spent a goodly portion of my waking hours driving up/down US Route 1 going to/coming from medical appointments... Today, both Norman and I had eye exams: his in the AM and I just  (6:15 pm) returned from my 3 PM, EST appointment. My eyes are still a tad dilated.  I had hoped to have blocked my poncho and finished at least  three-quarters of the stitching left on the Flower Garden border  - not today!

This going for all these medical appointments is tiring...Looking forward to the weekend and rest tomorrow. Who knows, I may even make headway on the  poncho  and Flower Garden border. For now, it's downstairs for some light supper, the evening news and Game 3 of the World Series. 

Here's to a restful and pleasant weekend for you! Enjoy!

Cheers~

 

think write thursday | the morning's view...

 

27 october 2016   

   I stand at the counter, waiting  for my tea in the microwave, to brew. It is 5:30 am. I am up a tad earlier than usual because I have a 9 AM doctor's appointment. It's still quite dark, too dark in fact to see more than the night lights on the streets and nearby buildings. Across the Avenue, I can see lights in one corner on the top floor of the new apartment building for seniors. I think: "Another early bird, like me" and make a mental note to go by the building when I go out on my daily walk in the neighborhood. I realize I've not done so since the building was finished and that was a while back; I suppose it's fully occupied now. 

The apartment building in my immediate view is mostly still hidden by this tree. Save for the night lights on the building, it is also completely dark...no early birds there either, I surmise. Speaking of this tree, I realize it is not as dense -  its leaves slowly fall, assisted by an occasional gust of wind ... it is that time of year.

Autumn colors and falling leaves are slowly coming ...on my walks, I see a growing number of trees trying on their autumn frocks. Pumpkins, mums and other fall flowers grace porches and steps. An occasional yard features a witch or goblin or ghost, sometimes all three. The sound of acorns and crusty leaves greet my steps. 

The microwave beeps...my tea is done and it is time to return upstairs, to write this post and then begin getting ready to go. A weather alert text just came through: "grab the umbrella...rain as early as lunchtime." 

Are you an early riser? What's in your view? Go here to read others' Think Write Thursday blog posts. And a shoutout to Carole and Kat for this new weekly treat.

Cheers~

 

 

watercolor wednesday | crazy azaleas...

                One of the books I'm reading on writing,  A Writer's Book of Days by Judy Reeves, offers this bit of advice: 

Guideline 9 - Write specific details:  "Be true with details that are true and right for the piece. But be careful not  to bloom your azaleas in the fall..." p. 159

The azaleas in my front yard - in bloom as I type this - must've skipped over that little bit of advice...or decided the author doesn't know what she's talking about 'cause they are definitely:  In bloom! Thriving! Despite overnight lows of 39 degrees F. 

Guess Mother Nature knows what she's doing ...

Cheers~

 

 

 

ten tuesday morning thoughts..

 

 

(Scrapbook Layout in Progress - SLiP )

1. Continuing my new scrapbook layout in-the-making routine, I began this morning fiddlin' 'roun with my next layout, using the Ali Edwards'  May 2016 READ theme...
2. Deciding if I want to use the1967 photo (of me in my 20s in my first position as a Children's Librarian after I completed my MSLS (Master's of Science in Library Science) ... or find another ... or do something else. Lots of options and so it sits there; periodically, I look at it, move a card or other piece, jot down a thought...
3. Dipping into about 6 books simultaneously these days...all are on various aspects of writing. Some are re-reads and others, new to me...
4. Writing notes in my journal of follow-up ideas, inspiration and stuff to do - other books to read...
5. Reading your comments from yesterday's blog posts - thank you for them and especially, the ideas and sharing...
6. Writing notes for upcoming Think Write Thursday post...
7. Remembering a story and checking Google for today's dollar equivalent to 1962 twenty dollar bill: $157 and change...
8. Traveling back in time - late 70s - to a trip to Mexico and a story of unrequited love; noting it needs  to be told...
9. Penning more ideas and potential topics for future blog posts and life stories... Yet, when I sat here at the computer to pen this post, though, I had not a clue about what I wanted to write for today...
10. Realizing my post is done! A tad later than I'd planned but that's the way it is, somedays! And I know my next challenge: set up a schedule of  topics and batch process blog posts. After all, NaBloPoMo begins in one week! 

Cheers~

PS. Are you planning to participate in NaBloPoMo? Any tips to share? And has anyone seen any info for this year? My searching is bringing up nothing!

 

 

 

memorandum monday*

 

(FriendStitching)

            This past weekend, the 42nd this year, was relatively quiet.

Saturday was cold and blustery. I started out to a shopping center and turned around to return home...all (nearby) roads leading out of the city were jammed with diverted traffic due to some problem...decided I'd rather sit at home and read or stitch than in the car...

Once home, I did indeed read and stitch a bit and a little later, we went to the grocery store for a few things. We settled in to watch the Cubs WIN the NLCS!!! We capped off  the celebration with SNL ... and then to bed, said sleepy head ...

Sunday was my monthly Friendstitching gathering, made special because we celebrated Margaret's birthday. We usually rotate among each other's home and this month we met at Pat's (Margaret's mother). Pat made a delicious chili - just perfect for brunch on a a cool autumn day. After brunch, we moved upstairs to Pat's loft - her sewing/quilting room is on 3rd floor. Normally we sit around the table but this year, since Margaret and I each needed a  larger space, we sat in the cutting/ironing room of the loft... two of us in one room and the other two  -  the main area. 

My Mondays are generally spent attending quilting association meeting...not today: I awoke with an upset tummy (too much pumpkin spice in my tea yesterday - I tried using the seasoning rather than the syrup and I learned: not a good idea). It's strange to be home on Monday but also nice. A change of pace and another opportunity to chip away at my projects. Yesterday I started stitching the top border of the Flower Garden quilt...at last! It should go faster because the pieces are larger - which is fine by me. 

Here's to a great week!

Cheers~

 

*PS.  Memorandum Monday is a meme hosted by Sian of From High in the Sky .

 

fri-yay...around here...

 

                Wed night, prior to the debate, I finished that last inch on the  poncho. Imagine me doing a happy dance! Next up, bind off and then block ...and then I need to refer to the directions for the next step.

Yesterday, I settled the  mobile banking issue! The problem: I had to download the app from the site's home screen. With their assistance t'was done and now I am officially in the 21st Century...remember Y2K?

 

As for the Flower Garden ...butterflies are free albeit a pain to stitch! I have three and one-half wings to do ( + a star) and had planned to finish up Thursday evening ...forgetting that a cousin on my dad's side whom I'd not met before would be in town. Obviously meeting her took precedence over those silly butterflies. So, I'll get them done later today...perhaps. Just sit myself down and do it!

 

And today my niece, Cissy - my grandnieces' mom - celebrates her 48th birthday!  She is also my namesake:  Shortly after she was born, visiting, I saw my/her/our  name on one of two diaper pails (her brother is  22 months older)... my immediate response: "Why is my name on a diaper pail?" Duh! A big Happy Happy to her and wishes for many more.

And that's the way it is around here on a FriYaY! We're gearing up for buckets of rain and much colder temps starting later today... good knittin', readin', stitchin' and sleepin' weather this  weekend!

And here's to a great weekend for you!

Cheers~

busy morning sky...

 

        I made a slight alteration to this morning's start...realized I had not a single thought for today's post nor had I printed photos for a layout because I ran out of printer's ink earlier this week and tho' the replacement had arrived, that's as far as I'd gotten ...  so, I went downstairs to make tea and while waiting, I  looked out the window and saw this (and how's that for a run on sentence?!):                   

The morning sky was filled with jet trails - I think I count at least nine! The one very thin line is of a plane on its way to National Airport. A busy morning. 

And a busy morning I have too. I am on my way to the credit union before I join friends for a couple hours stitching at 1 PM. I was unable to deposit the check by phone...couldn't/haven't been able to download the app; therefore I'll need to do it the old fashioned way ...and see if they can help me. Ain't technology grand?

Time to get a move on, as my mom was oft fond of saying and here's to a great day and more dynamic morning skies...

Cheers~

watercolor wednesday | autumn's brilliance...

I think that I'll never see a poem as lovely as a tree ~ Joyce Kilmer

...especially in autum

10 to do this Tues 17 Oct ...

                                            

                                                           (this photo was taken in 2009 - really grainy! )                                                                                       

          We are having a string of days of summery weather, temp in the 80s, low humidity... Fall is definitely in the air. A good day to spend outside, at least some portion of it. And that I'll do...but before, I'd best attend to these:

1.  Call ML & E mail Terri; Mur & Eileen...
2.  Fiddle with  two layouts in progress...
3.  Write this blog post ...
4.  Knit +/- last inch on poncho! ...
5.  Stitch butterflies on FG border - almost done ...
6.  Deposit check via phone (fingers crossed  it works) ...
7.  File papers...a chore I put off all. the. time...
8.  Find photo of me in witch's hat *...
9. Plant lily bulbs...

And once I've completed (hopefully)  the above: 

     10. Walk to Zeke's for a pleasant outdoor  sit on the Avenue ...

 What's on your daily to due list? Hope it also includes time for you!

Cheers~ 

 

*Found!