Morning Glory Studio

collecting august 2018 ...

(click to enlarge) 

        Another month for the memory book! I am not much of a fan for sultry HOT August days...and we have certainly had our share this year. Early on this month, I decided to focus more on the magical moments of peacefulness in my life: 

• nature
• sunrise and sunset
• trees
• flora
• animals
• things that bring me pleasure: friends; gatherings; colors; peaceful moments; journaling; capturing my day; recently: caramel latte´ - hot or cold
• Norman in his "Sunday go-to-meetin' " clothes  (but he would  only stand still long enough for one photo!).

The week of Aug 13-19, I joined other scrapbookers for a mini LOAD (layout a day). The photos on the 16-17, 19 and 28 are some of my layouts; my favorite is the 28th.

Photo #18: my Apple Watch; I'm learning it...

Photo # 20: the little pooch - #20 - is Molly, my friend Pat's Yorkie...

Photo # 21: We met at  friend Doris' for Recent Reads; this is a Sunbonnet Sue quilt she made that documented her travels to a variety of countries. It is great fun!

Photo #24: the day was perfect, weather-wise and I took a long, leisurely walk to the Franciscan Monastery; the lily pond was filled with Koi...

Photo #26: We have a tail -less squirrel in the neighborhood! I see it traversing telephone/electric/cable wires and fences all the time. In this photo, it got hold on a big piece of what looked like bread - and scampered up a tree to eat ...in peace! 

Finally, Photo #31: Shortly after I picked up my car today, actually, within minutes of leaving the dealership, the sky opened up and dumped sheets of rain! No doubt, crying for poorer me! Yes, I have my car and it is in top-notch shape, complete with a set of new tires. It was expensive to fix but the car - fingers, legs, toes, etc crossed - should be good for at least another two years! 

Have a great weekend and Welcome to September! It's almost here! Wahoo!

Cheers~

3+ on thursday | 8.30.18 ...

 

 

~when morning gilds the skies~

10:15 am ~ Currently:

I am sitting in the customer lounge of my car dealership; my car’s in for it’s 145,000+  miles tune-up and a problem, I define as “surging” when the A/C is on. Several times the engine has cut off...fortunately, restarting hasn’t been a problem, yet.  Next week, I’m meeting my Thursday stitching group friends for a trip across the Bay Bridge; we’re going to a quilt shop in Delaware to shop for fabric for the “Shades of the Forest” workshop I mentioned in yesterday's post. I don’t want to miss out on the trip because my car’s acting weird...and a look at the forecast strongly suggests that the “heat” shall continue with avengeance. No relief for the wicked... 

I am looking forward to the workshop and I think the title is perfect for September and the end of summer (the autumnal equinox will be only  12 days away...). 

6: 25 am ~ Sunrise:

This morning as I arrived downstairs to make tea and set up for MSQT, I witnessed a lovely sunrise...and the waning Full Moon.  iPhone camera in hand, I immediately stepped out on the deck and snapped away. In my journal, I wrote: “T’is such a privilege to watch the forces of Nature usher in a new day; to see the birds - black darts against the soft grey blue sky -  fly towards the rising sun, their song filling the air, in concert with the crickets’ crescendo. Sunrise never lasts that long - long enough - but it is always spectacular. One can never see too many sunrises.” 

12:15 pm ~ Serendipity: 

I am reading Moments of Seeing by Katrina Kenison. I brought it along with a lot of stuff as I figured I’d be here at the car dealership more than several hours; I was right. I begin with the essay: quiet work, p.243:

“ This morning at dawn I stepped outside. The sunrise was spectacular. The first words that popped into my head were: ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life.’  The birds were singing like crazy...And my heart was full with the sweetness of the moment.

Joining Carole and friends for another 3 on Thursday here.

Cheers~

12:42 pm ~ Still waiting

My Service Rep just came to tell me “it’ll be at least another 20 minutes before the tech knows what the problem is.” Why am I not surprised?

unraveled wednesday | 8.29.18

 

     In July, I set aside my knitting to focus on my convergence quilt...I am stitching the outer binding and should have it finished by the weekend...a stitch here n' there, when I sit down or take a break. In not quite a couple weeks, I am attending a day and a half quilting workshop with three of my Thursday stitching group friends. The subject is trees. I may use the above photo for inspiration. Our instructor hails from Australia; more to come soon. 

 This past weekend, I finished  Louise Penny's The Brutal Telling (Audible) and Yaa Gyasi's  Homegoing  (print). These two very.different.novels, both set in another country were each a tour de force. I especially liked listening to the #5 Inspector Gamache book  (of the 13, so far, in the series). I found the narrator Ralph Gosham's reading to be quite listenable (a word?) . Tho' I have Homegoing as an audio book, I decided against listening to it...the cast of characters is quite extensive and thankfully, there is a "family tree" one can and does refer to quite frequently. I am still thinking about the story. A debut novel, Homegoing  transcends place and time and yet it's all about place and time ...over several centuries through today. We're offered a different view of slavery and humanity ...and the picture, sadly,  is not much better now than then. 

It's 91 degrees at 12:41 pm. Norman just came in from a quick trip out; I inquired: "How does it feel out there?" His response: "Well..." And that settles it for me! Hope it's cooler where you are!

Joining Kat and friends...

Cheers~

 

 

 

 

28 august...

 

 

(image source:  US National Park Service)

28 august 1963: The end of my junior year; I was home (Toledo OH) from college for a couple weeks before returning to college. As during the summer between my sophomore and junior years,  I'd spent this summer break as a counselor at a camp in Jackson MI for underprivileged  children. Their parents were either a) too poor to afford sending their children away for the summer and/or b) one parent - if not both, in a rare instance - were incarcerated in Michigan's Jackson State prison. 

The camp had been founded by two wealthy Jackson MI families, both of whom had lost a son - in his early 20s - during World War  II. The  families founded the camp in their sons' memory and honor, deliberately for young, impoverished children, often being reared by a grandparent or in foster care. Children, ages 5 -11, could attend the camp, and often, we had an entire family of siblings.

A camp session was for two weeks and the only rule: you had to stay the entire two weeks. If you left, that was the end of the camping experience. Forever! I remember how we did everything under the sun to cajole the kids into staying. Camping and counseling and loving those children are indelibly carved memories. 

28 august 1963: On this date, Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial here in Washington DC. I watched on the television. 

28 august 1983: Twenty years later, I'm now living in Washington DC and I've joined the thousands who've traveled here to commemorate the first March on Washington and Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech. My memory, then as with today, took me back to that first March and to the  camp and the children. It was also pretty miserably hot. 

28 august 2018: Fifty-five years have passed. Today is pretty miserably hot.  A lot has happened in the intervening years. Today, I remember those children at the camp and I know not  all made it. But I trust those that did were guided  and assisted by their camp experiences. Today  I'm not sure where we and our children are headed. I just know that we have to keep the dream alive.

 

could it be?

     ~there's a hint of Fall in the air ~

Have a wonderful weekend, filled with the best weather, ever...

Cheers~

3 on thursday | 8.23.2018...

 

 

 

I sit  here at my stand up/sit down computer desk/station, not quite sure what I want to write about for today's post. Three things...hmmm:

1. Spread before me are words on the desk top and the shelf that holds my Mac and phone - which needs a new battery or to be replaced.  A book that I read in 2004 and pulled from the shelf, thinking I'll add it to the q-ue-ue. 
2. To my right, the book of time - a clock - ticks, ticks, ticks. The sound is comforting, especially on this sunny, cool August morn. A hint of Fall in the air. Soon, we will leave for Norman's 1 PM medical appointment. Today, I am missing my Thursday gathering with friends. I just received a text from one, touching base because she knew I wouldn't be there.
3. On the desk top: a Rhodia dot grid reverse notebook. The book is called a reverse book because it can be used either in the portrait or landscape orientation. The 8.3 x 8.3 inch pages are perforated. I like Rhodia papers and notebooks: the paper's a great weight and there's very little shadowing or bleed. To my right, a scratch note pad for jotting down the inevitable notes, phone messages, ideas that generate throughout the course of the day. Sitting on the Rhodia notebook, a bookmark from a former staff member that surfaced the other day; I have it out to remind me to touch base with her so we can plan our second reunion in Oct/Nov. 

Fifteen minutes, no doubt more, have passed since I sat to pen (type)  this post. The sounds from inside and out are the usual: traffic; an ambulance siren. Oddly, no dog barking. Just the steady tick, tick, tick of the clock. It is cool enough - 72° F - to turn off the fans and open the windows, wide. I look out the window and see a father showing a toddler how to bounce a ball with his feet, as they do in soccer... the ball is almost as big as the toddler. Nevertheless, it's a fun moment to watch.

Hmm, for having nothing on my mind to write, my count shows 400 words. Another glance at the clock tells me it's time to wrap up this post, add the image and get ready to get ready to go. Happy Thursday! 

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 8.22.18

 

    Recent Reads Gathering  8/21/18 ~ 11am 

Every morning, two friends and I text one another, primarily to check in and make sure we're all OK...this was my message Tuesday morning as I left to join three other  friends for our bi-monthly Recent Reads gathering and sharing of books we'd read during the past 8 weeks.

"Hi 👋 on my way to meet with friends, talk about books 📚 & have brunch...

then, a few errands + buy a new umbrella ☔️ ‘cause I can’t find mine!

Ah raindrops are beginning .

Have a good day!

Cheers ~"

The four of us had a lot to share during today's session; I came home with a slew of titles to add to my "To Read" queue plus two books and a May 20, 2018 Parade Magazine article  about a current  movie: Book Club. The stars are all over 65 years; I cannot believe Jane Fonda is 80! 

As we were leaving, the heavens opened up. It poured! So, we sat awhile and traded a few more stories. I never did get to run my errands or buy a new umbrella! Perhaps tomorrow...

 

Today- Wednesday's Update:

The day dawned cooler, sunnier and drier...so, I walked to Zeke's for a caramel latte´ and to sit a spell on the Avenue... I also bought a new umbrella at Family Dollar for $5. I'm thinking mine will now show up. This afternoon, I've spent listening to more of  The Brutal Telling, Louise Penny's  5th Inspector Gamache novel; this is the first one I've  read  as an audible book. It's a great companion for stitching butterfly motifs on my convergence quilt! I'm not a gold star collector but I'm giving me at least three for today! 

1. Walking to Zeke's...
2. Stitching butterflies and ...
3. Resuming reading Gamache...

The last reminds me to share this question that appeared on Good Reads. What's your response?

Joining Kat and Friends for this week's Unraveled Wednesday! 

Cheers~

each one teach one...

 

 

Pat's Convergence Quilt

     Mondays are generally the  day I travel to Columbia for quilt association meetings; I haven't been to one all summer. I decided to take the summer off since the meetings are generally informal gatherings...and frankly, I was tired of making the 80 miles - or so-  round trip drive. However, yesterday, I traveled to Columbia to meet with friends Pat and Margaret . We met at Pat's home and the two of them experienced  the process of making a Convergence quilt. 

Margaret's Convergence Quilt

I was the "teacher/mentor," sortof  an each one teach one  - and to be perfectly frank, watching and walking them through the process was also good for me. For one thing, I refreshed my understanding and also, renewed my enthusiasm for making the quilt, especially for finishing, mine. I am dragging my feet...no reason why other than...

Our monthly Friendstitch gathering is this Saturday...I look forward to seeing their sewn together quilts and sharing mine. I am using the plastic butterfly templates to trace the butterflies and then I stitch! ...Watch this space!

Are you putting off finishing something, too? Do you know why?

Cheers~

sometimes mondays ...

 

Going back to school for some children and UMD marching band ...

Spending the day with friends, quilting and ...

Being surprised by  azalea flowers on the azalea bush! Summer’s last hurrah?!

How’s your Monday?

Cheers~

 

 

 

 

 

august is *hot*...

 

 

 

It is August - the 17th to be exact. Here I sit, inside Zeke's, at the counter facing the window, looking out on the Avenue. 

It is August - and H-O-T! 89° F, to be exact and just barely Noon! The weather app says it feels like 98° F. I don't disagree.

It is August - I recall, decades ago - perhaps July 1983,  I was attending the annual American Library Association conference. At these conferences, publishers have their new wares on display and provide free copies of books they expect will be hot  (pun intended). Judith Rossner's August was being released and the give-away was not only the book but a really cool book bag that said August is HOT! complete with an appropriate graphic. Yes, I got the book and the bag! Read the book, donated it to the library. Used the bag til it wore out.

We have a quiet weekend on tap - the forecast calls for rain and cooler temps. That will be a welcome relief.  And in my reading queue, I have several "cooler" books .

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers~