Morning Glory Studio

sounds from my morning walk ...

 

Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven ~ Ravindranath Tagore

 

*Crickets; the coo-coo of a mourning dove; Spanish  language; a car starting...another, stopping at a stop sign...

*Cicada...

*the rustle of the paper I hold in my hand...

*A siren in the distance - perhaps an ambulance, fire engine, police...

* A helicopter overhead - after all, this is the city...

*My feet shuffling on the sidewalk. I think aloud : “Pick them up, Honore´”...

*Zero Metrorail sounds - track work affects/closed four stops; one is just six blocks from home and all is silent...

*Birds chirping, tweeting; a crow: Caw! Caw!...

*Audio message from my walking app letting me know I’ve clocked a mile...

*Buzz of a an electric saw and the roar of a Go2 car as it starts up from having stopped at a stop sign; funny car - seats only 2...

*Children’s laughter, playing inside their house - the window’s open even tho’ the room AC is going, madly...

*Cicadas are more pronounced as I stop to take a photo of the trees and the sky...

*Traffic noises are louder as I approach Rhode Island Avenue ...still a bit o’ rush-hour left...

I arrive home:

*the clack of the gate as I open it; keys jingle as I reach in my pocket to remove them...

*the beep of the alarm being disarmed; the key in the lock and as I open the door:

*Norman saying “Hello! Hello!” “Just me!” I respond.

*The AC is running - another hot one on tap! Good to be home and inside the cool!

Cheers~

  

 

sometimes mondays ...

 

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

 

 

I have...today

 

Today, I share a Waterlogue photo; it has been a long while since I’ve done so.  I was greeted on my visit to the Monastery yesterday by  gardens filled with bright colors from the flowers against the backdrop of a bright blue sky and a parade of  magnificent trees. The lily  pond was filled with koi. Bees and butterflies were busy pollinating and gathering. It was all  very peaceful, what I needed, coupled with the walk there and back. 

Today, I have barely moved from my seat at the table. I have/had a lot I could do ... and yet, I’ve done not much of anything, all day... except write. I have a lot to say...and yet, nothing to say.

Today, I am okay with my today. I think  ... scratch that... I know that sometimes it’s best to step back and let your self deal with your thoughts and questions; to take time out; to pause, reflect... to feel.

Today, Elias is seven months old - technically, only 5 months, since he was two months premature. He’s trying to sit up and rolling over...Dolly is doing very well, too. We are ever grateful for their  continued recovery and improving health.

Today, I am thankful for today. 

Cheers~

 

 

a couple brilliant ideas...

 

Tu 8 May

7 am:  Fiddle around in CR, straightening up…downstairs for MSQT…make tea.  N gets up, shortly after 8 am (early for him)…there goes MSQT! TV goes on (of course); we kibitz…he finishes his breakfast and goes downstairs to his computer.  I eat b’fast…grateful for the resumption of  MSQT!

10:18 - Catch up on notes for WiTL  Appreciate the quiet sounds in the room (and my ears - which long thought was “static electricity,” turns out to be tinnitus~ a mild case) … Thinking I'll  use Pages  for notes -   I can C + V for blog posts, etc…guessing I’d best clear up my space and get ready; we're going  to Lowe’s and Home Depot - fence hunting … Remind myself : take paper and plastic bags and books  to  car…and definitely take a walk this afternoon... 67 degrees @ 10:28 and sunny…

1 pm: Return home. Our trips to both home improvement stores futile - not really any inventory and definitely no inspiration...frustrating -  as this saga with replacing the now fallen fence continues with no end in sight.  I decide the time to take a walk is now!

2:16: Sitting outside @ Zeke’s; a lovely, sunny, low-to-no humidity day... Drinking a decaf caramel latte´ made with almond milk and reading my Monday new book purchase. NTS: next time I come to Zeke’s, bring my own coffee mug (I think the cups they use are too small). Brilliant Idea! I almost blurt out loud. 

2:46 : I decide to take a different path home from Zeke’s: walked down Jackson St and met Jackson, a Westie?! And his owner…she invited me to attend the local garden club meeting; perhaps I will.  Arrv’d home as N was leaving for his walk… drafted/published  blog post and started LOAD - 8.

Later in the early evening, discussed with N the idea of installing  a chain link fence... and use bushes/trees  for privacy. We both thought that's the best solution and congratulated ourselves for our brilliant idea!

Finished my layout and watched TV.  To bed shortly about 11:15 p. Loving those brilliant ideas!

Cheers~

sometimes monday morphs into tuesday...

 

 

LeMoyne Star quilt block

Yesterday, Monday 7 May turned out to be a fuller than full day for me: for starters, I was up at 5:30 am and in my sewing room, stitching together the pieces for a LeMoyne Star quilt block . I retired early Sunday night knowing I'd be getting up and stitching and then getting ready for my weekly quilt group meeting...the LeMoyne Star block was going with me for quilts of valor quilts we are making for veterans...I figured that my project would take an hour - at best, 90 minutes and I'd still have enough time for MSQT and to get ready to leave. I had a 10 AM meeting scheduled so I had to leave home by 9 AM! That was the plan...

It took me three hours to make the block! Little problems occurring...drat! And as I watched the clock, I encountered other annoyances...nothing that couldn't be fixed but did take time. I left home, finished block - not my best but OK -  in tow and arrived about 20 minutes after the meeting started. 

After the quilt meeting, lunch with three quilters...I ordered a kale salad, featuring  3 kinds of kale: plain; curly and purple; walnuts; cheese and a raspberry dressing plus a cup of crab chowder. Sounded good. The soup was delicious. The kale salad only had one type of kale. I brought that to the waiter's attention; upon checking with the kitchen, he discovered they were out of the other two types of kale...so, I didn't have to pay for my salad. Worked for me!

(some of the books I bought)

After lunch, I  made a quick stop at the grocery store and then, to Barnes & Noble; I'd not been in about a month and I had some coupons that were on fire in my pocket. I bought over $205 worth of books and a card; with the coupons, member discount and the 5% rebate I get from my credit card, I saved $50 - the price of my prized book: Obama: An Intimate Portrait, by Pete Souza, the then White House Photographer!  I also got Chasing Light , the official book about Michelle Obama! I'm delighted with my haul.

(the layout)

Homeward bound to meet our yard guy...the lawn sorely needed a manicuring and sprucing...then dinner: still a couple pizza slices left and a bit of kale salad; the news...and finally, one last thing to do before I could call it a day: make my scrapbook layout for the day. The theme: a "fail" in your life. 

Whew! I was tired . About 11:15 pm, I called it a day! The one thing I didn't get done was Monday's blog post. Sometimes Mondays begin with a long list of to-do items and sometimes one just has to say : Good Night!

This week, I am documenting "The Week in the Life," sponsored by Ali Edwards. Today is Tuesday and I will share today tomorrow...still have  a layout to make and finish living today. Hope your Tuesday has been as great - weather wise - as ours! To be continued...

Cheers~

 

sometimes mondays...

 

 

include a new tea mug (from Target "Dollar Spot") and a slow start... Have a great day!

Cheers~

unraveled Wednesday | quiet...

 

Sounds of quiet:

...the washing machine, swirling back/forth...pause...reverse...drain...spin...refill...

...my spoon as it scrapes the bottom of the bowl, filled with oatmeal and fruit...tasty...

...my thoughts as I listen...write... type the words in this post ... and about the day, thus far...

Over the past week, I've continued to engage in the Swedish art of Dostadning, leaving little time to knit or stitch ...a bit here n there... I read most mornings, throughout the day and perhaps a bit before lights out at night...this week, my interests have returned to mindfulness practices. I'm still undecided about my March fiction read...guess, I'd best make a decision...soon, March will be over...

The washer has finished ...time to reload ... and get on with the day! Joining Kat and others here. 

What are your sounds of quiet?

Cheers~

a page from my journal ...

     Today, Friday afternoon Journal Club sessions - ten total - resumed. Hooray! We've had what seemed to be a long hiatus since the Fall session ended in November. I have missed these weekly gatherings over the Internet, via Zoom , with many any old-timers and newbies from around the world. Our first session was perfect for a beginning because here in Washington DC, the temperature has reached the high of 50 degrees and it is sunny! For the occasion, I bought a new journal and some new pens...I'd planned to resurrect my fountain pens but they're needing to be flushed, it seems...

One of our journaling prompts is a free write, lasting about 5 minutes. The idea is to capture whatever shows up for you. My thoughts today:

• An adventure: I'm sitting at my sit-down stand up desk. Journal Club,the first of our winter 2018 season is in process. Great Standards is playing (on a DirecTV station) in the background; "No Greater Love, sung by Gloria Lynne, an all-time fave of mine, dating back to my college days. Ah, the memories. I get up and go downstairs to  make certain I'm hearing what I think! Yep! Sing on Gloria! The pen, a new one, does have a bit o' bleed...and reminds me I want/need to resurrect my fountain pens. My nails have been ruined from my last manicure! What to do? My free write has been mostly capturing the present moments, describing my thoughts as they evolve, as my senses took them in...

I'm looking forward to our next nine sessions. Interested? Go here...

Have a great weekend - til Monday...

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | "tasting again ...

 

...for the first time..."

     One Sunday (nearly 14 years ago), several  weeks after my mother died, I discovered a new-to-me knit shop, about 35 -40 miles away.  So, I decided  an excursion was in order and off I went. The shop was filled with lovely yarns and one could tell it was popular, filled with regulars. I browsed ...fondled yarns... perused books...and stopped in my tracks when I ran across Sally Melville's Book 1: The Knit Stitch.

Two things on the cover got my attention: 1 - the Scarf and 2 - "photography by Alexis Xenakis." The Xenakis name is well known in the spinning/weaving world, too. My mother was a weaver and had many patterns and books created by the Xenakis. I sat down with book in hand and began to browse through it...I decided to buy, not only for the "inspiration and instruction" and connection but also for the bon mots - words of meditation that introduce each chapter. I also bought some lovely yarn to knit the scarf...

At this point, I should insert a photo of the scarf for I've had plenty of time, and then some, to knit  it ...but alas, that is not the case. I don't think I was ready. I carefully put the yarn away in a pantry, fully intending to begin the project. In the interim I have started (even finishing) other knitting projects. Fast forward to late 2017 and the Mason-Dixon Knitting Field Guide No. 4: Log Cabin. I first learned about the log cabin from Kathy B of Compassion Knit. I of course was familiar with the log cabin block because of my quilting connection.

Last week, Kat mentioned in one of her wonderful knitting links' roundup, the Log Cabin LogAlong... I checked it out and thought, perhaps I could use the yarn I bought for Sally's scarf for the LogAlong;  I could get more/better use out of a blanket than a scarf..and, drum roll please:  Sally's book and the KAL make for a perfect project to accompany my 2017 & 2018 words: practice...complete...peace...mindful. 

I am so excited. Watch this spot. Joining Kat and others for this week's Unraveled Wednesday; look for their links in the comments. 

Cheers~

this magic moment...

 

 
"Catch a magic moment. Do it right here and now. It means everything."

~ Van Hallen, "Right Now"*

Morning Glory Studio ~ Sunday 7 January 2018 ~ 9:48 am

     Sunlight shines brightly, streaming through the (very dirty)  window in the studio that was once Mama's bedroom and now, my sewing space. On the iPad: Sunday Baroque, a classical music program I discovered many years - 14+ - ago, around the time Mama died; I guess, after. Those first weeks, months, I was comforted and carried through my loneliness and eventually, returned to reclaiming my comfort and acceptance of life without her, without parents, with being orphans as my sister said in the wee small hours of the morning of her death. 

Today, on my way downstairs, to replenish my tea, I walked in here to put away a ribbon and was struck with how much I love this room, especially in the quiet morning when the sun streams through the window, regardless of the season. I am welcomed, invited in, encouraged to stop, "catch a little magic moment" - do it right here and now. It does indeed mean everything - the magic I felt when my mother, my dad - my parents - were alive and loved, guided, sheltered us, my sister Connie and me.

Funny, I'd previously marked this page - I know not when -  and turned to it, unknowing. I just knew I wanted to spend moments in this room, quiet, alone, safe, secure, warm, comfortable and comforted, bathed in the sun's warmth and my love and memories of Mama. I'm usually looking in  - in this space, I look around and feel the love...and the magic!

 

*This quote comes from this mindfulness journal.