Sometimes Mondays are:
- refreshingly cool...
- on the way to hot...
- sunny...
- quiet ~ especially for a Monday in August...
- a start to a week with no must, should, ought-to-do...
- a blank agenda
- filled with promise and possibilities...
- an invitation to stop, look, breathe...
- CREATE!
Have an awesome Monday!
Cheers~
stop look breathe CREATE by Wendy Ann Greenhalgh
sunset 5.15.2018 ~ 7:55 pm
12:57 pm
*not only on wednesday but every day...or so it seems. From time to time I make reference to a "groaning board agenda," something I'm quite prone to create for myself. Apparently my eyes are bigger than my stomach and/or I have no concept at all how long anything I set out to do will take...and today's no exception. On today's list: 10 things...and as of this writing, I've accomplished 50%. Of course, the day's not quite 50% done. A quick review, however, holds promise...and maybe, I will "push away from the table feeling not only full but accomplished"...time will tell...
Be that as it may, I've already forwarded two items to Friday and am tackling three in the next hour or so...so, onto today's topic:
Knitting/Stitching: Have not knit a stitch since last week but I am three-quarters finished with stitching on the binding of Elias' quilt! (Binding is the next to last thing one does on a quilt; the last is usually to sew on a label) I think I'll finish tomorrow when I join my Thursday stitchin' group!
Reading: I've about 100 pages left in Louise Penny's 4th Inspector Gamache Novel : A Rule Against Murder. This one intriques me because included is a story about Gamache's father, whose name also happens to be Honore´... I'm curious to know why he's in this novel... As I've mentioned before, Fiction is not my "go to" genre of choice so I'm glad I've found Inspector Gamache. I plan to read the rest of the series via audiobook - except for a couple titles. ...And I'm thinking about "summer reading" choices - they make wonderful walking companions!
And that's the way it is this Wednesday... just as I was penning this post, the fence estimator called...he was able to come early. So, perhaps I'll get through my list before the sun sets... Ha! no worry today: it's grey rainy ...and that's the way it's gonna be! Joining Kat and others today!
Cheers~
friday 30 march 2018 ~ 4:35 pm ~ my craft room
No Journal Club today so I've been attending to a variety of chores; in the background, jazz vocal greats: Nat King Cole; Tony Bennett; Ella Fitzgerald; Peggy Lee, etc. Norman made chili...he makes a pretty good pot of chili and I've been Döstädning: Decluttering; Reviewing; Deciding; Purging; Organizing; Vowing "No More Stuff!"
Now that I have a pretty good idea of what's in this room, I'm at the point - after I go through just two more 12 x 12 storage cubes - where I can donate stuff - some really nice art/scrapbook supplies either to the elementary school, a charitable organization or my friend's garden club for their annual flea market sale. And next Saturday is shred day, so a lot of papers will go, too. Whew! I feel like a load has been taken off my mind...well, at least my list!
Next up: I plan to tackle clothes and the linen closets...they'll be easy and make a nice break from shuffling papers...and then: my sewing studio. In 2019, we have our biennial quilt show; one thing we do is sell stuff...quilters line up to buy fabrics, patterns, books/magazines and all sorts of quilting gadgets for pennies...Since that's a year away, I plan to take my time Döstädning that stuff! I anticipate that as I sort through the stuff I'll rediscover some real treasures...Kayla will be a senior in the fall; perhaps a quilt to accompany her if she goes away to college...
Time to wrap up this post and call this a Ta Dah day. Enjoy the weekend.
Cheers~
10:59 am |21 degrees
listening to Sunday Baroque ...
remembering the morning sky @ 7:21 am was a bright blue, sprinkled with jet plane contrails - now grey and overcast...
talking to Norman as we eat breakfast...brunch?...
watching a couple squirrels scamper among this tree's branches, playing with one another ... and a flock of birds swoop, land, leave ...
noting yesterday's snow - still on roofs and deck...no melting today...
drinking tea ~ a mixture of green and Teavana Peach Tranquility...
texting a couple single friends - we touch base daily every AM and share our individual plans...
looking at clock: 11:30 am ~ thinking it's time to return to my craft studio and resume where I left off yesterday...
2:28 pm | 22 degrees
listening to Elise Joy and Ali Edwards discuss their 2018 words as I type this post; you can catch it here ... are you choosing a 2018 word: care to share? I'll share mine tomorrow...
We're bringing in 2018 right here in the warmth and safety of home! Wishing you a safe, bright and Happy New Year!
Cheers~
Perhaps like me and countless other people around the planet, you are looking forward to and contemplating 2018 : plans, hopes, desires, projects, a big event, changes you desire to make in your daily routine, new habits to cultivate, old habits to discard - what to start, stop, continue!
My crystal ball is foggy...dreams, desires, ideas, dailies aren't quite solidified in my mind let alone on paper or digitally. One day I'm leaning towards this -whatever it might be - and the next, well, maybe not! In a word, indecisive.
When I was working, I'd end the year with large sheets of flip chart papers pinned to a cork wall in my office - I wish I had a photo. The sheets listed all the irons I/my department had in process plus ones we planned or wanted to schedule. We made a lot of progress with those projects, ideas, thoughts. Perhaps because the last month in December was very quiet in the library world and we had the time and opportunity to zero in on projects without being interrupted.
I was thinking about those flip chart papers today as Norman and I waited for his medical appointment and prescriptions to be filled. We're scheduled for snow to accompany the frigid temperatures we've had for the past 48 hours.I can probably find some oversized papers around here..especially if I restore order in my craft studio. I'm thinking that I might just spend a goodly portion of the weekend clearing up that crystal ball...
How's your crystal ball looking?
Cheers~
I totally missed MSQT (morning solitude and quiet time) yesterday. So today, I was determined to resume this twenty-plus years habit. That's really the best thing about MSQT - I can pick it up at anytime, any place.
We awoke to rain which lasted the best part of the day. I situated myself at my spot, determined to a) make amends for yesterday's absence and b) spend as much time as necessary organizing the many notes and jottings produced over the past several years as I've on again/off again focused my attention and energies on aspects on "me stories" for my AMAZe (about me A - Z) project.
The rain was a perfect backdrop for my project because I planned to stay parked, to do, as Kym so eloquently compared and described in her post on deadheading. For me, clearing out and arranging notes, ideas, thoughts, information that has flourished like weeds, er uh, indigenous plants has been ignored... In the background, the TV was on with the stock market and current political news. The latter, mostly about tweets and then, the bombshell: North Korea and DT's response. And so, among the endless chatter, parked I stayed...until the sun came out, about 4:30 pm. I realized the day was nearly gone and I needed to go for a walk. I took Olive with me.
8:11 pm: The sun is setting and the temperature, a "cool" 81 degrees. Norman has just finished a couple hours' chat with his nephew in Chicago.
And I've just about finished my deadheading project. Can't wait to see how this plant will (soon) blossom. It will need in the weeks to come, steady attention and TLC...
Cheers~
“Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
~Hans Christian Andersen
This week's ThinkWriteThursday topic is to do an assessment on our first six months' 2017 intentions. Yes, I know it's Friday and no, I didn't get my days mixed up...just that yesterday's Simply A Moment post takes/took precedence.
As I pen/type this, I have to share a few statistics: this is my 212th consecutive daily post since 1 Nov 2016! I am pretty stoked about this and yes, I admit, some days I've really stretched my brain to post something that is - I trust - worth your time to take the time from a busy, demanding schedule. Not only to read but also, comment. I don't think I say thank you enough. Thank you. Your comments and support are totally appreciated. I am so enjoying the conversations we are having and especially your support and what I am learning - especially from your blogs!
I was bent and determined - after four years to the date - to finish my Flower Garden quilt...know that your support and encouragement played a significant part in my fulfilling that intention...
I am stretching my reading preferences to read at least 12 fiction titles in 2017. I am on my fourth book! One third of the way there.
Progress is a tad slower with my AMAZe (About Me: A-Z) Story project but progress is the operative word. Inch by inch... What is most important is that I am developing a system that is providing the scaffolding I need to keep moving forward...
I have been known to be (and the first to admit ) easily beguiled by inspiration...so, I have been putting in place different habits and routines that help keep me from going down that rabbit hole --- or this one...or here ? I often refer to my choices as a groaning board - too many items on the breakfast buffet from which to choose and so I pile on... winding up with accomplishing or enjoying very little. This habit change stuff is tough, of course, 'cause the nature of a habit is to not have to think about it...
I am taking my own sweet time with my #100 day and stitching projects: knitting; quilting; needle arts... The name of the game is practice - not only to get better but more importantly to play, experiment, learn and relax...
This year, I have three guiding words: practice; complete and peace. The actions I take on a daily basis become practices, habits, a way of life that contribute to my feeling complete and being at peace. I am on the right path. To be continued...
And do visit Carole's blog to see the progress others have made!
Cheers~
This week’s Think Write Thursday is to share my Summer Bucket List.
My summer bucket - though "currently empty" in the photo - is on its way to being filled with lots of everyday type activities:
Everyday, I will fill that bucket with colorful slips of paper, on which I've written a sentence (or two, or three or more) that documents the day as well as expresses my appreciation for my daily life on this planet earth. I hope you will join in as I share via this blog...and share your summer bucket days, too.
Visit Carole's blog for others' bucket lists.
Cheers~
Driving today to our next-to-last quilt meeting until September (we have informal gatherings on Mondays during the summer months), I had an enlightening thought. Running through my mind: things I need to do this week; summer plans and activities; thoughts about my 100DayProject...I'm still not quite settled on how I want to proceed. My design wall and cutting table are filled with odds-n-ends: fabrics; threads and yarns; sketches/notes; notions; tools...all have possibility but nothing has really grabbed me yet...and looming in my mind : July 12 is just, literally, 37 days away...and I need to get a move on.
And then I thought: "Sez who? Of course I don't have to finish by/on July 12!. I'm the master of this ship, the decider-in-chief of what I do and when I do it. Beyond paying taxes (due the 15th) and taking my car in for the emissions test before the 25th, I'm not obligated to complete the project, ever, let alone 12 July. And the next quilt show is in 2019! Lotsa time!"
Since my May 23 post on #the100dayproject I have been operating with a rather foggy crystal ball ...allowing my creative juices to be stirred by a due date rather than my creative energy and excitement. I arrived at the quilt meeting feeling pounds lighter, perhaps even a bit excited, my enthusiasm for the project rekindled...and my crystal ball looking clearer.
Today is the 5th day of June; the letter E in my About Me A:Z project. The story kit's E word is "eat." Hmmm... I looked at the kit's contents and nothing immediately jumped out at me...I guess I'll have to let that simmer a bit, too.
So that's the way it is. The mail was blah all week - just the usual.
Have you had a eureka moment recently?
Cheers~
P.S. The geraniums are leftovers from last summer; they wintered in the house. I put them outside about three weeks ago and I am ecstatic that they bloomed.)
(crabapple blossoms with just a hint of pink)
Do you remember when Saturdays were designated as"clean the house?" Mop, dust, vacuum, laundry? Perhaps even throw in a trip to the grocery store and of course, start Sunday's meal? After chores were done, whatever time was left was generally relegated to doing something fun and/or relaxing - perhaps reading a good book or going to the movies or the mall to window shop. During my childhood, our Saturday treat was dinner at a local Kewpee's (an Ohio restaurant chain): hamburger, French fries and the best chocolate milkshake in all the world.
Gretchen Rubin in this week's Happier Podcast suggests that we might consider having a week-long power hour schedule - one hour a day dedicated primarily to tackling an "I'll get roun' tuit" project.
Today, this Saturday, I have spent nearly the entire day sitting at the table in the Great Room, starting at 7:30 am, or so -with a project, too long in the wings. I did tear myself away to take a walk for it has been a glorious day, filled with bright sunshine and temps in the low 60s - tho' the wind made it feel more like low 50s. And what have I been doing? Reviewing any number of assorted and sundry pieces of papers that I'd written a note here, there, everywhere but in one central place. Disorganized!
And so I promised myself that I would sit here until I'd reviewed and organized all those pieces of papers and one-off type notes. I did! Now, my mind is clear and the stage is set for me to re-establish the habit of keeping my notes and therefore my mind and my actions organized! And to devote my attention to enjoying the creation of my #the100DayProject...
For dinner, no hamburger or chocolate milkshake but a glass of champagne! Works for me!
Cheers~